Chronic Kidney Disease: Prevalence and Advocacy

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the most overlooked public health challenges in the U.S., despite the fact more than 37 million adults are living with it. Even more alarming, 9 out of 10 people with CKD don’t even know they have it.

Often called a “silent disease,” CKD can progress for years without obvious symptoms. But when kidney function declines, the consequences are severe—leading to complications like high blood pressure, nerve damage, heart disease, anemia, and ultimately kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant. Read the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease blog for more information on how to check for CKD.

What’s often missed in the public conversation is this: CKD rarely exists in isolation. It’s often interconnected with other chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, both on the rise.  That’s why this past Chronic Disease Month was such a vital moment. CKD isn’t just a kidney issue; it’s part of a larger epidemic affecting over 130 million Americans. And yet, kidney disease remains on the sidelines of most chronic care conversations.

To change that, we need to push for policy solutions that reflect the realities patients face: early detection, integrated care, and access to healthy meals. When we talk about chronic disease, kidney care must be part of the conversation.

Learn more about how advocates took action at cdm2025.chronicdiseasecoalition.org.