A new report from the U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) stated rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States are up more than 20 percent in the last decade. This dramatic increase has caused loss of life and sky-rocketing healthcare costs.
 
The data suggests awareness of diabetes, hypertension and lipid disorders, which are associated with CKD, is high, but control of these diseases worsen as CKD progresses.  This report reaffirms the need for early diagnosis of kidney disease and kidney disease education.

This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter.