Kidney Disease — A Growing Problem
1. More than 26 million Americans over age 20 have chronic kidney disease. This number represents approximately 13% of the adult population. Millions more are at increased risk for developing kidney disease, and most don’t even know it.
2. More than 526,000 Americans are currently receiving treatment for kidney failure (also called end stage renal disease, or ESRD). This includes more than 367,000 dialysis patients and 158,000 people with functioning kidney transplants.
3. Every month, the number of Americans waiting for kidney transplants increases. About 83,000 patients are awaiting kidney transplants and more than 2,200 are waiting for kidney-pancreas transplants.
4. Chronic kidney disease has a disproportionate impact on minority populations, especially African Americans. The incidence of kidney failure (ESRD) per million people is: 998 for African Americans, compared with 273 for white Americans.
5. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44 percent of the new cases. Nearly 180,000 people are living with kidney failure resulting from diabetes.
6. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S. It accounts for 24 percent of all cases of kidney failure in the U.S.
7. The third and fourth leading causes of kidney failure in the U.S. are glomerulonephritis, an inflammatory disease of the kidneys, and polycystic kidney disease. These disorders account for 16 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of the new cases of kidney failure in the U.S.
8. Kidney diseases continue to be a major cause of lost productivity, physician visits, and hospitalizations among men and women.
# # #
For more information on kidneys and kidney disease, visit www.kidney.org
Sources of Facts and Statistics:
“Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States,” from the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
U.S. Renal Data System 2009 Annual Data Report (www.usrds.org)
United Network of Organ Sharing: Organ Donation and Transplantation
December, 2009
The National Kidney Foundation thanks the following sponsors for their support:
 |
 |