Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic kidney disease is a global health burden with a high economic cost to health systems and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease - Nathan R. Hill et al
image by: Johnny's Kidney Journey
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Putting Kidney Disease Patients at the Center of Proactive Care
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 30 million adults in the United States—almost 11% of the population. Yet kidney disease patients are at the mercy of a system that is inadequate to care for them—from lack of, or haphazard, diagnosis and little preventative care to the financial incentives that result in patients getting churned through the for-profit industrial complex of kidney care.
Patients deserve better, and therefore a complete overhaul is required. Now is the time for healthcare providers and payers to come together, putting patients first by adopting a multidisciplinary approach that ensures they receive the care most suited to their needs.
Inadequate…
Resources
The disturbing hypothesis for the sudden uptick in chronic kidney disease
Researchers are now coming together around a hypothesis about what’s driving a little-appreciated epidemic, known as “Mesoamerican nephropathy.” One main suspect: global warming. It has become a leading hypothesis to explain not just Mesoamerican nephropathy but a similar uptick in chronic kidney disease in India and Southeast Asia. The victims could be called “climate canaries.”
Can Tech Take The Kidney Punch Out Of Kidney Care?
Health care as an industry skews more toward the bottom line than patient care. Add to that the uncertainty of the insurance market, and we see a destabilization of patient options and available information. We must be our own advocates, and research is our best weapon against disease. Knowledge is power, so we were told as kids.
Global heating ‘may lead to epidemic of kidney disease’
Chronic kidney disease linked to heat stress could become a major health epidemic for millions of workers around the world as global temperatures increase over the coming decades, doctors have warned.
How this S.F. startup is taking on chronic kidney disease
Founded in 2015, Cricket Health works to support the estimated one in seven American adults living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The San Francisco-based startup, which earlier this year outgrew its SoMa co-working space and moved into a newly leased office at 251 Kearny St., is swiftly ramping up its program aimed at slowing the progression of CKD, as well as supporting end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.
Living with kidney disease, hope for the future
Don’t be afraid. It can be a scary thing when you’re diagnosed. I didn’t know anyone else with kidney disease. But you have to educate yourself. Get as much information as possible. There are so many resources out there.
Patient Voices: Kidney Disease
Affecting nearly 30 million people in the United States, according to The National Kidney Foundation, chronic kidney disease can be caused by diabetes, chronic hypertension, a genetic factor or a rare disease, and can lead to a renal failure. Here, five men and women discuss the impact this disease has had on their life.
Premature Birth Raises Risk of Kidney Disease
People born prematurely should be especially vigilant about the onset of kidney disease decades later.
Silicon Isn't Just for Computers. It Can Make a Pretty Good Kidney, Too
EVERY WEEK, TWO million people across the world will sit for hours, hooked up to a whirring, blinking, blood-cleaning dialysis machine. Their alternatives: Find a kidney transplant or die.
The VA Wants to Use DeepMind's AI to Prevent Kidney Disease
THE HUMAN BODY is frail and people end up in intensive care units for all kinds of reasons. Whatever brings them there, more than half of adults admitted to an ICU end up sharing the same potentially life-threatening condition: kidney damage known as acute kidney injury.
For Older Adults, Questioning a Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease
Is it really possible that half of the population older than 70 has chronic kidney disease? International guidelines adopted in 2012 make it seem that way.
Kidney Disease, an Underestimated Killer
Kidney disease doesn’t get the attention, funding or concern associated with cancers of the breast or prostate. But it actually kills more Americans — 90,000 a year — than both malignancies combined. Even when it is not fatal, the cost of treating end-stage kidney disease through dialysis or a kidney transplant is astronomical, more than fivefold what Medicare pays annually for the average patient over age 65. The charges do not include the inestimable costs to quality of life among patients with advanced kidney disease.
Black Health And Kidney Disease: The Untold Stories
The epidemic of kidney disease in the Black community has many stories to tell. Black Americans experience three times the risk of developing kidney failure as compared to the White population. Diabetes and hypertension remain the most common causes of end stage kidney failure.
Caring for Persons With Advanced Kidney Disease Should Not Feel Like a Nail-Biting Game of Jenga
Persons with advanced kidney disease should be empowered to understand how each new medication, life event, dietary change, or hospitalization can influence their disease progression. Care should be easily organized and accessible, so that any provider can readily understand where patients are in the course of their kidney disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease: The Long-Term Battle
Early in their diagnosis, many are overwhelmed and try to survive day-to-day. At some point, an inner resolve takes over to make the commitment for the long-term battle. In some cases, this is facilitated by strong family support, and in others there is a strong sense of personal commitment that allows one to roll the boulder up the hill every day.
Chronic kidney disease: This tiny particle might change millions of lives
Researchers have engineered peptide nanoparticles to outsmart the biological system and target the kidney cells. The innovation may prove critical to addressing chronic kidney disease.
Fish That All Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Should Be Aware Of And Avoid
While, people generally believe that all fish is good for them, they may be surprised to learn that some are not. Here are a few fish that the nonprofit, Food and Water Watch, recommends people should avoid.
Global Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health burden with a high economic cost to health systems and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). All stages of CKD are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity, premature mortality, and/or decreased quality of life.
Kidney Disease Costs Medicare $41 Billion a Year and Yet Often Goes Undetected
More screening is urged for all Americans age 60 and older - not just those with diabetes and hypertension.
Kidney Disease, an Underestimated Killer
Kidney disease doesn’t get the attention, funding or concern associated with cancers of the breast or prostate. But it actually kills more Americans — 90,000 a year — than both malignancies combined.
Let's Take The 'Kid' Out Of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a serious condition that can affect anyone at any age, including children.
Living Well with Kidney Disease
Based on the handbook "When Your Kidneys Fail" (originally published in 1982), this new and updated edition provides detailed information specifically intended for people coping with Kidney Disease and other renal failure, as well as their friends and families. The question and answer format provides a clear and manageable guide for those seeking support and answers.
Mysterious kidney disease goes global
In India, several research groups are on the trail of a cause. But each team has used its own methods and tools, often in isolation, making it hard to compare findings.
The Largest Public Health Issue You’ve Never Heard About
Kidney disease. The largest public health issue you have probably never heard about. It’s the silent killer that very few people are aware of. It’s not a topic of water cooler conversations or casual dinners. More importantly, it’s probably not a topic at your primary doctor’s office.
The Silent Epidemic Behind Nicaragua's Rum
The citizens of Chichigalpa, a small town in western Nicaragua, are dying at an alarming rate. Research has linked conditions in sugarcane fields, which produce molasses for rum, to an epidemic of kidney disease.
Newly Diagnosed with CKD? Here's What You Need to Know
Eating a proper diet is essential for those with any stage of kidney disease. Across the board, cutting down on sodium is an important recommendation, but the kidney diet is very individualized.
Putting Kidney Disease Patients at the Center of Proactive Care
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 30 million adults in the United States—almost 11% of the population. Yet kidney disease patients are at the mercy of a system that is inadequate to care for them—from lack of, or haphazard, diagnosis and little preventative care to the financial incentives that result in patients getting churned through the for-profit industrial complex of kidney care.
5 Signs Your Kidneys or Heart Could be in Trouble
Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause damage to both the heart and kidneys. If you have heart disease, it is likely that you have kidney disease and vice-versa. Many people don’t experience severe symptoms until their kidney or heart disease is quite advanced, but there are some warning signs. Could you be ignoring them?
Cricket Health
We empower kidney patients to take charge of their health, helping them achieve better outcomes while reducing costs for the system.
KidneyX
The Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX) is a public-private partnership between the US Department of Health and Human Services and the American Society of Nephrology to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases. KidneyX seeks to improve the lives of the 850 million people worldwide currently affected by kidney diseases by accelerating the development of drugs, devices, biologics and other therapies across the spectrum of kidney care including...
American Association of Kidney Patients
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is a national non-profit organization founded by kidney patients for kidney patients. We strive to educate and improve the health and well-being of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, those on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplant recipients.
Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients
The Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients (CSCKP) brings together like-minded people who care deeply about the quality of compassionate, supportive care for kidney patients. We are professionals from many disciplines and laypersons who are working for true patient-centered care that values quality of life.
Conservative Kidney Management
CKM is a treatment option for managing advanced chronic kidney disease. This pathway is a resource for patients and healthcare professionals with a focus on quality of life, symptom management, and living well without dialysis.
Demystifying Kidney Disease for the Average Joe!
Making sense of kidney disease: Dr "VC" Chauhan's "plain-English" take; without the doctor's jargon.
La Isla Network
La Isla Network is dedicated to ending chronic kidney disease of undetermined causes (CKDu) among workers and their communities worldwide.
Life Options
Life Options is a program of research, research-based education, and outreach founded in 1993 to help people live long and live well with kidney disease. A national panel of doctors, researchers, patients, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and ESRD Network directors reviews all Life Options materials and helps guide research.
RareRenal
The National Registry of Rare Kidney Diseases (RaDaR) is an initiative by UK kidney specialists (the Renal Association). It is designed to pull together information from patients who have certain rare kidney diseases. This will give a much better understanding of how these illnesses affect people. It will also speed up research.
Kidney Care UK
We are the leading kidney patient support charity providing advice, support and financial assistance to thousands every year.
Kidney Health Australia
Kidney Health Australia was first incorporated on 9 August 1968 as a non-profit organisation which has served the kidney community of Australia for well over 40 years. Kidney Health Australia's mission, vision and values are at the core of how we conduct our business and form the foundation for our future direction. Kidney Health Australia has given a long term commitment to families and children affected by kidney disease, but the biggest challenge remains for us to reach those two million Australians who do not know they have early kidney damage.
Kidney Patient Guide
This site has been made possible by a generous grant from the Wellcome Trust's Science on Stage and Screen awards. This site is the result of collaboration between health care professionals, experts in information technology and multimedia, specialist health care writers, and - above all - people with renal failure, their families and carers.
Kidney Patients UK
The National Kidney Federation is unique because, although there are a large number of kidney charities, the NKF is the national kidney charity actually run by Kidney Patients for Kidney Patients.
Kidney Research UK
Founded in 1961, Kidney Research UK is the leading UK charity funding research that focuses on the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. Kidney Research UK also dedicates its work to improving patient care and raising awareness of kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has been providing help and hope to kidney patients and their families since 1950. Today, with local offices across the country, NKF is meeting the growing public health challenge of chronic kidney disease with a range of vital programs and services for the public, patients and healthcare professionals.
National Kidney Registry
The mission of the NKR is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants in the world.
Renal Support Network
The Renal Support Network (RSN) is a nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides nonmedical services to those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). RSN strives to help patients develop their personal coping skills, special talents, and employability by educating and empowering them and their family members to take control of the course and management of the disease.
RenalWEB
RenalWEB is a neutral, nonaffiliated web site for the dialysis industry and community. With hundreds of web sites containing dialysis product information, RenalWEB has function as a "daily newspaper" for useful information, new products, services, and educational resources since 1999.
The National Forum of ESRD Networks
The Forum of ESRD (End-stage Renal Disease) Networks advocates for the organizations that monitor the quality of chronic kidney disease, dialysis and kidney transplant care in the United States.
UK Renal Registry
The UK Renal Registry is a resource for the development of patient care in renal disease. It was established by the Renal Association with support from the Department of Health, the British Association of Paediatric Nephrologists, and the British Transplant Society.
American Kidney Fund
The mission of the American Kidney Fund is to fight kidney disease through direct financial support to patients in need; health education; and prevention efforts.
DaVita
DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500® company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita strives to improve patients’ quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services.
Fresenius Kidney Care
Helping you live a better life on dialysis.
HuffPost
Various articles.
Irish Kidney Association
The Irish Kidney Association is a charitable voluntary organisation founded in 1978. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of renal patients and their families and carers, living with and affected by end stage renal disease. These needs are spread across all aspects of life — medical, social and psychological.
Kidney & Urology Foundation of America
The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America provides research grants and develops quality educational conferences for physicians and other medical professionals in the nephrology, urology and transplant communities.
Kidney Cancer Association
The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) is a charitable organization made up of patients, family members, physicians, researchers, and other health professionals globally. It is the world’s first international charity dedicated specifically to the eradication of death and suffering from renal cancers.
KidneyCoach.com
KidneyCoach.com is a blog created to help people, like you achieve health and happiness in all areas of their life through the creation of powerful free content (articles, video, and audio) each week.
National Kidney Center
Our desire is to share compassion with individuals who are diagnosed with kidney disorders by supporting efforts for early screening, detection and awareness of treatment options that include paired donation. The National Kidney Center will work to educate each generation about the risk factors that can lead to kidney disease and the treatment options available to live a full life.
Nephrology News & Issues
Nephrology News & Issues, part of Grand View Media Group in Birmingham, Ala., published its first issue in 1987 with the aim of informing readers of the latest developments in nephrology while providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among the professional disciplines responsible for delivering care to the end-stage renal disease patient.


Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network
The primary goals of the OPTN are to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of organ sharing and equity in the national system of organ allocation, and to increase the supply of donated organs available for transplantation.
Renal Research Institute
The Renal Research Institute is dedicated to advancing therapy options for dialysis patients to provide the highest caliber of care based on advanced clinical technology. The Institute is committed to research and innovation that will lead to improved patient outcomes and quality of life.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Information and tools to help you manage your renal diet.
The Nephron Information Center
Our mission is to use this medium to make the public more aware of kidney disease in a sincere effort to prevent it when we can, and to help our colleagues achieve good outcomes in those who already have end stage renal disease. Our role is to provide as much information as possible to patients, professionals and the general public.
The Scottish Renal Registry
The Scottish Renal Registry (SRR) is a national registry of patients receiving renal replacement therapy for established renal failure in Scotland.
Uro Today
UroToday's mission is to create a free, credible, referenced online publication providing global open access to accurate and timely urological disease information. UroToday is dedicated to ensuring that the availability and accessibility of research material is not affected by marketing and distribution strategies used by publishers.
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