Kidney Disease Facts

• There are over 10,000 End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont.
• More than 20 million Americans - one in nine adults - have chronic kidney disease. Another 20 million Americans are at increased risk for developing kidney disease.
• The number of kidney failure patients is expected to double to 650,000 by 2010 with a projected cost to taxpayers of $28 billion.
• High-risk groups include anyone suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of kidney disease, older Americans, African-Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders.
• High-risk groups should ask their physician for three routine tests: a blood test for creatinine, urine test for protein and measurement of blood pressure.
• Nearly 16 million Americans, or about 6 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes.
• About 50 million Americans (one out of 5 adults) have high blood pressure.
• More than 390,000 Americans are being treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation for kidney failure.
• Each year, nearly 60,000 Americans die from causes related to kidney failure.
• Kidney disease results in 27 million physician visits, 6 million hospitalizations and 2.5 million surgical procedures each year.