Kidney Disease Opens Door to Heart Disease, Other Leading Killers, Says National Survey: CLICK HERE FOR MORE
National Kidney Foundation program demonstrates value of simple tests to
diagnose kidney disease in people who are most at risk

NEW YORK, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- People with chronic kidney disease are significantly more likely to have other, life-threatening conditions
such as heart disease, according to new findings from a nationwide
screening program by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) published in the
March issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. The report is
released today in conjunction with the 2nd annual "World Kidney Day"
observance in recognition of the worldwide significance of kidney disease
as a public health problem.

In the survey of people at risk of developing kidney problems, those
who were already diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, or CKD, were also
at increased risk of having poorly controlled blood sugar, a hallmark of
diabetes. Compared to the general population, people at risk of CKD were
more likely to be overweight, and have high blood pressure. The survey was
conducted through NKF's Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), a free
kidney health detection program designed to help people at risk for chronic
kidney disease (CKD) receive early diagnosis and treatment.

"People at risk of CKD are more than twice as likely as people who are
not at risk to have high blood pressure," says Allan Collins, MD, president
of the NKF. "Among people at risk, 27% of those already diagnosed with CKD
have heart disease, the nation's top killer, relative to only 15% of people
at risk of, but not yet diagnosed with, kidney problems," he adds. "These
findings suggest that CKD can multiply the risk of other devastating
illnesses, demonstrating the importance of diagnosing and managing the
disease in those who are most vulnerable."...