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Kidney conditions
Start learning about chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.1
Most people have two kidneys located on either side of the spine, just below the ribs. They are relatively small — about the size of a fist — but they do a lot of work to keep you healthy. Every 30 minutes, they filter all the blood in your body. They also:
Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, occurs when the kidneys are damaged in some way — often by diabetes and high blood pressure — and their ability to filter blood is compromised. This causes the body to retain more fluid and waste than it should, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and anemia, among other health issues.
1 in 3
people in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease.2
1 in 7
adults in the U.S. or 37 million people, have kidney disease.1
17,000
people receive a kidney transplant every year.3
Certain factors may make you more likely to develop CKD than other people. These include:
Populations with higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other risk factors experience higher rates of CKD.4 Access to healthcare also plays a role in these differences:
If you have CKD, you may not notice any symptoms. This is why early detection and treatment is important. Symptoms, when they do occur may include4:
CKD often worsens over time so it should not be left untreated. If you require a kidney transplant or dialysis, CKD progresses to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, there are two important facts to keep in mind:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD). National Kidney Foundation. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease#what-are-risk-factors-chronic-kidney-disease. Accessed on October 31, 2023.
Kidney Pathways: Kidneys and Your Health. National Kidney Foundation. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/phi/form?version=health. Accessed on October 31, 2023.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease? Fresenius Kidney Care. Available at: https://www.freseniuskidneycare.com/kidney-disease/ckd. Accessed on October 31, 2023.
Chronic kidney disease: Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521. Accessed on October 31, 2023.
Race, Ethnicity, and Kidney Disease. National Kidney Foundation. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/minorities-KD. Accessed on October 31, 2023.