A new initiative, "Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes"
(KDIGO), has been established to assemble international
expertise and resources in addressing the global epidemic of
chronic kidney disease (CKD). Chronic kidney diseases represent
a new and rapidly developing worldwide threat, according to the
International Society of Nephrology (ISN). Today, more than 1
million people around the world are alive on renal dialysis. The
incidence and prevalence of kidney failure have doubled in the
last 15 years and are expected to continue to increase.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 20
million people in the United States--one in nine adults--have
CKD, and most don't even know it. There is a clear need for the
development of a "uniform and global public health approach to
this worldwide epidemic," states an article in the October issue
of Kidney International. Data shows that kidney disease can be
detected through simple tests in its early stages and then
effectively treated. In end stages, d