The number of kidney failure cases in Singapore fell in 2015 but officials are cautious about a turnaround in the fight against what is also known as end-stage renal disease.

The 1,619 people diagnosed in 2015 was 8.6 per cent lower than the 1,772 in 2014, according to the latest Renal Registry report which was released this week.

The main cause of the disease is diabetes which accounts for about two in three cases. Other causes include infection and high blood pressure.

Malays had the highest rates of kidney failure, making up more than 27 per cent of all dialysis patients.

The report said that, taking the age of patients into account, the incidence of kidney failure "among Malays was approximately three times as much as (among) the Chinese".

The rate among Indians was 1.2 times that of Chinese.

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