can take steps to protect their kidneys with the help of their health care providers. CKD Is Common Among US Adults Fast Stats ● More than 1 in 7, that is 15% of US adults or 37 million people, are estimated to have CKD.† ● As many as 9 in 10 adults with CKD do not know they have CKD. ● About 2 in 5 adults with severe CKD do not know they have CKD. CKD Risk Factors Diabetes and high blood pressure are the more common causes of CKD in adults. Other risk factors include heart disease, obesity, a family history of CKD, inherited kidney disorders, past damage to the kidneys, and older age. Managing blood sugar and blood pressure can help keep kidneys healthy. CKD by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity According to current estimates:† ● CKD is more common in people aged 65 years or older (38%) than in people aged 45–64 years (12%) or 18–44 years (6%). ● CKD is slightly more common in women (14%) than men (12%). ● CKD is more common in non-Hispanic Black adults (16%) than in non-Hispanic White adults (13%) or non-Hispanic Asian adults (13%). ● About 14% of Hispanic adults have CKD. Percentage of US Adults Aged 18 Years or Older With CKD,† By Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity Percentage 18–44 45–64 65+ Men Women Non-Hispanic Whites Non- Hispanic Blacks Non-Hispanic Asians Hispanics † CKD stages 1–4 using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. For more details on the methods, see ‘How the Estimates Were Calculated.’ † How the estimates were calculated: Percentage of CKD stages 1–4 among US adults aged 18 years or older using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. CKD stage 5 (that is, kidney failure) was not included. These estimates were based on a single measure of albuminuria or serum creatinine; they do not account for persistence of albuminuria or levels of creatinine that are higher than normal as indicated by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes recommendations. Thus, CKD in this report might be overestimated. Estimates by sex and race/ethnicity were age-standardized using the 2000 US census population; the overall percentage is unadjusted. The number of adults with CKD stages 1–4 was estimated by applying the overall percentage to the 2019 US Census population aged 18 years or older. Blood pressure-lowering medications included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers; diagnosed diabetes was self-reported. Ways to Prevent CKD ● Manage risk factors for CKD: ○ High blood pressure. ○ High blood sugar levels. Keeping a healthy body weight through a balanced diet and physical activity may help manage blood pressure and blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Preventing type 2 diabetes can help prevent CKD and kidney failure. Treatment to Lower Blood Pressure ● Blood pressure–lowering medications are recommended for people with diabetes and CKD. However, the percentage of adults with CKD and diagnosed diabetes who are prescribed blood pressure–lowering medications is less than ideal. ○ Prescription of blood pressure–lowering medications is higher in people with CKD and diagnosed diabetes aged 45 years or older (about 70%) than in those aged 18–44 years (30%). ○ Prescription of blood pressure–lowering medications is similar in adult women and men with CKD and diagnosed diabetes (about 50%). ○ Prescription of blood pressure–lowering medications is higher in non-Hispanic Black adults with CKD and diagnosed diabetes (63%) than in non-Hispanic White adults (37%) or non-Hispanic Asian adults (32%). ○ About 47% of Hispanic adults with CKD and diagnosed diabetes are prescribed blood pressure–lowering medications. Percentage of US Adults Aged 18 Years or Older With CKD and Diagnosed Diabetes Who Were Prescribed Blood Pressure– Lowering Medications,† by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity 40 50 60 70 80 Percentage 18–44 45–64 65+ Men Women Non-Hispanic Whites Non- Hispanic Blacks Non-Hispanic Asians Hispanics † Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. For more details on the methods, see ‘How the Estimates Were Calculated.’ Testing and Treatment: Find it Early, Treat it Early ● Test for CKD regularly in people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other risk factors for CKD. People with CKD may not feel ill or notice any symptoms until CKD is advanced. ● The only way to find out if people have CKD is through simple blood and urine tests. The blood test checks for the level of creatinine, a waste product produced by muscles, to see how well the kidneys work. The urine test checks for protein, which may indicate kidney damage. ● Following a healthy diet and taking medicine for diabetes, medicine for high blood pressure, and other medications to protect the kidneys may keep CKD from getting worse and may prevent other health problems such as heart disease. CKD-Related Health Problems As CKD worsens over