Some 96% Unaware of Early Warning Signs.

• Position: KIDNEY DISEASE - Brief article

The number of Americans affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) is higher than previously estimated and affects 15% of the U.S. adult population, according to data analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga.

One in seven American adults, or 30,000,000 people, are estimated to have CKD. However, 96% of those with early kidney disease (stages 1 and 2) do not even realize they have CKD and, of those with severely reduced kidney function (stage 4), but not on dialysis, 48% are not aware of having the disease.

"Let these statistics serve as a warning bell that a major public health challenge is right in front of our eyes and more must be done to address it," says Kevin Longino, chief executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation, New York, and a kidney transplant patient.

"Additional Federal resources must be allocated towards increasing public awareness about the disease and advancing programs targeted towards prevention...