National Kidney Foundation Highlights Kidney Disease Risks Ahead of World Kidney Day
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is raising awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD) during National Kidney Month, highlighting the growing impact of kidney disease across the United States. Ahead of World Kidney Day, the organization is drawing attention to the urgent need for early detection, preventive care, and improved access to treatment for millions of patients affected by this often silent public health crisis.
Kidney disease frequently progresses without noticeable symptoms until it reaches advanced stages, making early testing critical for prevention and treatment. According to NKF, more than 37 million adults in the United States are currently living with kidney disease, yet nearly 90 percent remain unaware of their condition. This lack of awareness significantly increases the risk of complications and delays life-saving treatment.
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One of the most concerning realities highlighted by NKF is that about one in three adults in the United States is at risk of developing kidney disease. Key risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a family history of kidney disease. Because early-stage CKD often shows no symptoms, many patients are not diagnosed until kidney function has already significantly declined.
Simple blood and urine tests can detect kidney disease at an early stage when treatment is most effective. Early detection allows healthcare providers to slow or prevent progression to kidney failure through targeted interventions such as blood pressure control, diabetes management, and lifestyle changes. Through programs like CKDintercept and the development of Kidney Health Evaluation quality measures, NKF is working with healthcare systems and clinicians to increase recommended testing among high-risk populations.
Kidney disease also disproportionately affects certain communities. Black Americans are nearly four times more likely than White Americans to develop kidney failure, while Hispanic Americans experience kidney failure at nearly twice the rate. Addressing these disparities requires expanded access to testing, earlier diagnosis, and equitable healthcare resources across communities.
When kidney disease progresses to kidney failure, patients must rely on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant to survive. Currently, more than 90,000 Americans are on the national kidney transplant waiting list, and approximately 13 people die each day waiting for a transplant.At the same time, hundreds of donated kidneys are discarded annually owing to obsolete diagnostic technologies and logistical problems.
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Recent progress is helping address these challenges. Innovations supported by NKF helped rescue and transplant more than 400 kidneys that might otherwise have been discarded in fiscal year 2025. Additionally, reforms to kidney evaluation practices restored previously lost transplant wait time for more than 14,000 Black patients. Emerging research in xenotransplantation, which involves transplanting genetically modified animal organs into humans, is also being explored as a potential solution to the ongoing organ shortage.
Clinical guidance also plays an essential role in improving outcomes for kidney disease patients. NKF’s Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) clinical practice guidelines have helped shape kidney care for more than two decades. These evidence-based guidelines assist clinicians in detecting kidney disease earlier, managing risk factors effectively, and standardizing care across healthcare systems.
Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient, emphasized the importance of awareness and prevention. He noted that National Kidney Month is an opportunity to shine a light on kidney disease and the millions of Americans affected, but also to drive real change by increasing awareness, improving access to care, and accelerating innovation in treatment and prevention.
NKF encourages individuals to speak with their healthcare providers about kidney testing, particularly if they have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease. Early screening and preventive care can dramatically change the trajectory of the disease and reduce the risk of kidney failure.
As part of its long-term strategy, NKF is working to increase awareness of kidney disease risk, expand early testing initiatives, improve access to kidney transplantation, and support continued research and innovation in kidney care.
World Kidney Day, observed each March globally, serves as an important reminder that early detection and prevention remain the most powerful tools in the fight against kidney disease.
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