Tampa, Fla., March 2, 2009 – With an estimated 26 million Americans suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and another 20 million at risk of developing the disease, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is proud to recognize March as National Kidney Month.

Chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease which can lead to kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). People who have ESRD need a kidney transplant or dialysis – a life-sustaining treatment that cleans waste products from the blood. The leading two causes of CKD are diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), which account for more than 70 percent of new occurrences.

Research by the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) shows there were more than 350,000 people on dialysis as of January 1, 2007. Certain populations including African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and people over the age of 60 are also at an increased risk. African Americans are nearly four times more likely to develop kidney failure and account for 32 percent of people with CKD.

AAKP is hosting several educational programs and events throughout the month of March in honor of National Kidney Month including:

Kidney Beginnings: Live – AAKP and the Hillsborough County Health & Social Services Department are teaming up to host a Kidney Beginnings: Live program and health fair. The event takes place Monday, March 9th at the West Tampa Neighborhood Service Center in Tampa, Fla., located at 2103 N. Rome Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Kidney Beginnings: Live is a FREE educational program offered by AAKP that teaches individuals about how the kidneys function and the leading two causes of kidney disease – diabetes and hypertension. Programs feature free educational materials for attendees, presentations by local health care providers and attendees have an opportunity to ask questions. As part of this program, attendees will also have a chance to get their blood pressure and blood glucose levels checked.

AAKP and the Brookland Baptist Church Health & Wellness Guild host a second Kidney Beginnings: Live Saturday, March 14 at the Brookland Baptist Church Health and Wellness Center located at 1066 Sunset Blvd., in West Columbia, SC. The program takes place from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

Medal of Excellence Reception – On March 22, AAKP is honoring Robert W. Schrier, MD, with the AAKP Medal of Excellence Award. The Medal of Excellence is an AAKP recognition program honoring a renal physician who has achieved outstanding success in caring for kidney disease patients, while also possessing extraordinary skills and devotion in the field of nephrology. The award reception is held in conjunction with the Renal Physician Association’s Annual Meeting and takes place at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, MD. Tickets to the event are still available.

AAKP HealthLine - Everyone is invited to join AAKP on March 31 for an AAKP HealthLine conference call titled, Renal Transplantation 101. AAKP HealthLine is a FREE, one-hour conference call designed to educate participants on a variety of topics affecting kidney patients and their families. Conference calls feature kidney health care experts from across the country and provide participants with the convenience of gaining knowledge from the comfort of their home or office.

This conference call will feature a presentation by Charles E. Sanders, MD, FACP, a kidney transplant surgeon with LifeLink HealthCare Institute. Dr. Sanders will be accompanied on the call by a kidney transplant recipient who will give the patient perspective on kidney transplantation. The call takes from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET. Time is provided at the end of the call for participant questions. The AAKP HealthLine conference call is sponsored by Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and LifeLink Foundation.

Facebook – AAKP is now on Facebook. AAKP hopes to enhance the Association’s communications to patients and the general public, provide exclusive access to the Association to AAKP Facebook ‘fans’ and give kidney patients and their loved ones an opportunity to develop connections online. The first 10 people to join AAKP as of March 1, 2009, receive a free six month trial AAKP Premiere Membership.

To register or find out more information about AAKP programs and events, call 800-749-AAKP or visit the AAKP Web site, www.aakp.org/events.

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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for 40 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.