| Demographic Group: |
All adults aged ≥ 18 years. |
| Numerator: |
Respondents aged ≥ 18 years who report ever having been told by a doctor or other health professional that they have kidney disease. |
| Denominator: |
Respondents aged ≥ 18 years who report or do not report ever having been told by a doctor or other health professional that they have kidney disease (excluding unknowns and refusals). |
| Measures of Frequency: |
Annual prevalence – crude and age-adjusted (standardized by the direct method to the year 2000 standard U.S. population, distribution 9)1 with 95% confidence interval; and by demographic characteristics when feasible. |
| Time Period of Case Definition: |
Calendar year. |
| Background: |
In 2011, kidney disease was the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.2 While approximately 600,000 individuals have end-stage renal disease,3 more than 20 million U.S. adults aged ≥20 years are estimated to have CKD,4 and most of them are unaware of their condition.5 |
| Significance: |
If left untreated, CKD can lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation for survival.4 However, persons with CKD are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than develop end-stage renal disease.4 Controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol can prevent or delay these conditions and improve health outcomes.4 For the first time, Healthy People 2020 included objectives addressing the earlier stages of kidney disease.6 |
| Limitations of Indicator: |
Reducing the proportion of the U.S. population with CKD is likely to be difficult because of the growing prevalence of major risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and aging of the population.7 Many years may pass before declining trends are observed. |
| Data Resources: |
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). |
| Limitations of Data Resources: |
The estimated prevalence of CKD in the U.S. population is likely to be an underestimate because BRFSS is a telephone survey that excludes the institutionalized population, where prevalence is likely to be higher,8 and because prevalence is based on self-report. Most people with CKD are unaware of their condition.5 Also, one data point is available at this time. The question, “Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told (Ever told) you have kidney disease? Do NOT include kidney stones, bladder infection or incontinence.” was asked for the first time in the 2011 BRFSS core questionnaire.9 |
| Related Indicators or Recommendations: |
Healthy People 2020 Objective CKD-1: Reduce the proportion of the US population with chronic kidney disease. |
| Related CDI Topic Area: |
Diabetes; Cardiovascular Disease |