FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Robert Griffin
National Kidney Foundation
415-543-3303, ext. 108
Email: robert.griffin@kidney.org
Website: www.kidneynca.org
   
SACRAMENTO, CA --- A free health screening on the Capitol Lawn in March by the National Kidney Foundation of Northern California, checked 175 people, including legislators, their staff, and state and government relations employees, for conditions that lead to kidney failure and heart disease. "We found that half of the participants had hypertension or pre-hypertension, and nearly 40 percent had high total cholesterol, surprising results considering the average age was only 45," commented Dr. Anisa Nayeem of Summit Nephrology. Dr. Nayeem, along with Dr. Adarsh Bhat, volunteered to conduct the screening, reviewing all results and personally contacting those participants with values indicating the need for immediate follow up with their personal physicians.

"The screening, for many of the people who participated, followed by a visit to a personal physician, will help prevent Chronic Kidney Disease, a serious--sometimes fatal disease," said Assemblymember Ed Hernandez (D-57) who is a member of the California State Assembly Committee on Health and the California Legislative Kidney Caucus. The newly formed Kidney Caucus works to address the need for early identification of Californians with kidney disease and increase awareness in the Legislature concerning the impact of kidney disease and its complications.

All participants are receiving a letter with their personal screening results. The two-day screening was supported in part by grants from Abbott Renal Care and Genzyme.

The results reflect what is facing many Californians – conditions that are known to cause Kidney Failure and Heart Disease.

• 25% of those screened had high blood pressure or hypertension (greater than140/90).
• Another 25% of those screened had above ideal blood pressure or pre-hypertension (greater than 120/80).
• 38% of those screened had high total cholesterol (greater than 200 mg/dL).
• Seven individuals had elevated blood sugars that indicate possible Diabetes.
• One individual was shown to have high blood pressure, kidney disease & diabetes – with both the diabetes and kidney disease unknown prior to this screening.
• Two other individuals were shown to have possible kidney disease (eGFR – Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate of less than 60) and were referred to their doctors for further testing.
• The average age of the participants was 45. This relatively young age is a significant indication of potential serious health problems as the population ages. The long term effects of uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol and elevated blood sugar, are devastating for the individual's quality of life and could cost billions of dollars in increased health care costs for all Californians.

Why does this matter?

1. As many as one in every nine adult Californians—nearly three million individuals—has Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), though a majority don't know it.
    
2. The two leading causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. For many, both are preventable. For all, both conditions are treatable, particularly in the early stages. Early detection of diabetes and high blood pressure, followed by health education and support, are critical to slowing, arresting or preventing the progression of CKD.
    
3. As CKD progresses, it may lead to kidney failure, forcing people to either go on dialysis or undergo a kidney transplant to survive. However, the majority of people with CKD will die due to other causes, particularly heart disease, before reaching dialysis.
    
4. Three simple tests can help detect CKD: a blood pressure reading, urine testing and a blood test to determine serum creatinine. Currently, fewer than 20% of those at-risk due to diabetes, hypertension or other factors receive adequate screening for CKD.
    
5. The overall hospitalization rate of people with CKD is 4 to 6 times higher than that of people without CKD. It is estimated that the cost of medical care per CKD patient is over $40,000 per year, more than twice that of patients of similar age/gender without CKD.

What can be done?

• Increased awareness of CKD, its risk factors and treatments, both among the general public and within the healthcare community, can save thousands of lives and billions in healthcare dollars.
   
• Screening for CKD, whether in a clinical setting or through programs such as the NKF's free Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), is both effective and inexpensive—particularly when compared to the long-term cost of undetected CKD.
   
• Health & wellness education and management programs can improve outcomes for people with CKD, reduce hospitalizations, and help people live longer, healthier lives.

The National Kidney Foundation of Northern California & Northern Nevada and its constituents support public policy initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and improving assessment, education and care for people with or at-risk for CKD. All NKF community programs are offered free of charge and are made possible through the dedication of NKF volunteers and the generosity of philanthropic individuals and organizations throughout the area.