Over 20 million Americans who are 20 years of age or older could be at risk of kidney disease; but what can we do to reduce the public health burden?
In observance of World Kidney Day on March 12, 2015, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health made a call for kidney health. The NIDDK noted that many individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) do not receive treatment. Patients who display prominent risk factors, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are never informed of their risk.
The NIDDK is working to develop improved methods of kidney disease management and to broaden public access to quality care for these types of conditions.
Multiple are efforts are underway to help improve kidney care, for example: the Cleveland Clinic is currently testing whether or not patient navigators (health care workers who help patients organize their care) can do more to help their patients stick to prescribed treatments; Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco are working hand-in-hand with clinics to help provide care CKD care to medically underserved populations; A Duke University study is looking at an automated population program that could use electronic health reminders to help patients with diabetic kidney disease manage their care; and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas is searching for new ways to use electronic medical records to improve care for people with CKD risk factors or those who are already suffering from kidney disease.
"To truly achieve kidney health for all, countries must collaborate and learn from one another. Applying effective NIDDK efforts abroad may help slow disease progression and reduce the global CKD burden. In turn, NIDDK hopes to continue to learn from successful international CKD initiatives and test their efficacy in the United States," the NIDDK stated.