What is the public health problem associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
CKD is a worldwide public health problem. Adverse outcomes of CKD include loss of kidney function, sometimes leading to kidney failure, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (see question 24). Some of the adverse outcomes of chronic kidney disease can be prevented or delayed by early diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, CKD is under-diagnosed and under-treated. As a step toward improvement of this health care problem, the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Quality Outcome Initiative published guidelines for the classification and evaluation of CKD.
