Facts About Kidney Disease

• 26 million Americans have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk.
• Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease.
• African Americans are 3 times more likely to develop CKD than caucasions; Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Seniors are at increased risk.
• Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.
• Heart disease is the major cause of death for all people with CKD.
• Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best estimate of kidney function.
• Hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension.
• Persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine) means CKD is present..
• High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney disease.

Kidney Disease by the Numbers:

26 million        American adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD)

1.5 million       New Yorkers have chronic kidney disease (CKD)

500,000⁺        Americans have irreversible kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and require dialysis or kidney transplant to survive

355,000⁺          ESRD patients receive dialysis at least 3 times per week to replace kidney function

151,500          Americans have a functioning kidney transplant

80,000⁺          People die annually due to CKD, making it the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S.

75%               Of new dialysis patients have diabetes and/or hypertension as the underlying cause of irreversible kidney failure

80%               Of ESRD patients rely on Medicare for their primary health insurance

33%               Of ESRD patients are dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid

The Costs of Kidney Disease

$20 Billion        Annual cost of the Medicare ESRD program

$42 Billion        Annual Medicare expenditures to treat people with CKD

$106,000        Cost of a kidney transplant per Medicare patient in the first year

$71,000           Medicare spending on dialysis per-patient per-year

$17,000             Medicare spending for functioning transplant, per patient per-year

 $81,000         Medicare cost per patient for graft failure within the year

This material is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Medical questions cannot be answered via email.   Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.  Information above was provided by the National Kidney Foundation and is subject to copyright restrictions.  One copy may be printed for personal use.

Kidney disease is common, harmful, and treatable.  There are no noticeable symptoms until an advanced stage of the disease.  Know your risk factors and be tested, especially if you have a family history of diabetes or hypertension.  For more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here are some steps you can take to prevent kidney disease.

1. Drink plenty of fluid, especially to prevent kidney stones.

2. Prevent or treat high blood pressure and diabetes.

3. Don't smoke.

4. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight.

5. Eat a well-balanced diet and follow any dietary guidelines suggested by your doctor.

6. Avoid any unnecessary drug use.

This material is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Medical questions cannot be answered via email.   Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.  Some information above was provided by the National Kidney Foundation and is subject to copyright restrictions.  One copy may be printed for personal use.