Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by gradual loss of kidneyfunction over time. CKD is common in people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, about 37 million US adults are estimated to have CKD, and most don’tknow it.
According to the National Kidney Foundation:
- 1 in 3 American adults are at risk for kidney disease.
- Between 2000 and 2010, the rates of kidney failure caused bydiabetes have doubled in Asian Americans ages 30-39.
- Hawai‘i’s kidney failure rate is 30% higher than the national rate. Ofthe Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders ondialysis, 26.7% are Japanese, 24.7% are Filipino, and 17% are NativeHawaiian (Kataoka-Yahiro, et al.,2012). Dialysis is a treatment forpeople whose kidneys are failing.