New York Times Article Highlights Dangers of Kidney Disease: “An Underestimated Killer”

The New York Times published an important and informative article on the dangers of kidney disease on July 15, 2013, Kidney Disease, an Underestimated Killer.  The article points out why efforts like The Kidney TRUST’s CKD screening program are so important:

“Even when it is not fatal, the cost of treating end-stage kidney disease through dialysis or a kidney transplant is astronomical, more than fivefold what Medicare pays annually for the average patient over age 65. The charges do not include the inestimable costs to quality of life among patients with advanced kidney disease.

Much is known about who faces the greatest risks of developing chronic kidney disease and how it can be prevented, detected in its early stages, and treated to slow or halt its progression. But unless people at risk are tested, they are unlikely to know they have kidney disease; it produces no symptoms until it is quite advanced.”

The article goes on to quote Dr. Leslie Spry, director of the Dialysis Center of Lincoln in Nebraska about risk factors, noting that African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian-Americans and American Indians are a greater risk of developing kidney disease.

“People can’t change their genetics,” Dr. Spry said in an interview. “But I wouldn’t have to work so hard if they didn’t smoke, reduced their salt intake, ate more fresh fruits and vegetables, and increased their physical activity. These are things people can do for themselves. They involve no medication.”