Overall, rates of kidney disease awareness (crude) have increased from 8.7% in 2001–2004 to 13.7% in 2017–March 2020. The highest increase after 2012 was observed in participants with CKD stages 3–5 (from 15.6% to 26.0%). CKD awareness did not differ by race and ethnicity or sex but tended to be lower among adults aged 20–39 years. A higher proportion of adults with CKD and hypertension or diabetes were aware of CKD than those without hypertension or diabetes.
To view the awareness of CKD stages 1–5 by risk categories, select from the drop-down menu below. Risk categories include Overall, CKD Group, CKD Stage, Age Category, Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Diabetes, and Hypertension.
Data includes CKD stages 1–5.
NHANES is a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey that is currently conducted every two years (since 1999) by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics among noninstitutionalized US civilian residents. The survey consists of a standardized in-home interview and a physical examination with blood and urine collected at a mobile examination center. Data were examined by combining two NHANES cycles to represent four-year periods from 2001 to 2016 and the 2017–March 2020 pre-pandemic cycle.
Note: Not all NHANES variables are collected for all years; therefore, some NHANES indicators may not utilize the full 20-year span.
Awareness of CKD among adults with CKD stages 1–5.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged ≥20 years. Pregnant women excluded.
2001–March 2020.
U.S. adults aged ≥20 years with CKD who reported being told they have “weak or failing kidneys.”
Adults aged ≥20 years with CKD stages 1–5 and data for awareness.
CKD is defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² or albuminuria (urine albumin to creatinine ratio [UACR] ≥ 30 mg/g). Estimates are based on single estimates of eGFR and UACR.
Based on the CKD-EPI (2021) equation for calibrated creatinine: eGFR=142 x [min(serum creatinine in mg/dL) /κ, 1)]**α x [max(serum creatinine/κ, 1)]**-1.20 x 0.9938**age x (1.012 if female). κ = 0.7 if female and 0.9 if male α = -0.241 if female and -0.302 if male ** = raise to the power
UACR was calculated as urine albumin divided by urine creatinine. Albuminuria is defined as UACR ≥ 30 mg/g. Urine albumin is measured in random urine collection by fluorescent immunoassay.
Serum creatinine values used for eGFR calculation are standardized against isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS).
Stage 1: eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m² and albuminuria
Stage 2: eGFR 60–89 ml/min/1.73 m² and albuminuria
Stage 3: eGFR 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m²
Stage 4: 15–29 ml/min/1.73 m²
Stage 5: eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m².
Self-reported diabetes or HbA1C ≥ 6.5%.
Self-reported hypertension or measured blood pressure ≥ 130/80.
Awareness of kidney disease is self-reported. Albuminuria and kidney function are assessed from one-time cross-sectional measurements, possibly overestimating CKD prevalence.
Appropriate NHANES survey weights are used for all analyses; if the relative standard error is greater than 30%, the estimates are not shown. Serum creatinine measurements are assay corrected for NHANES years 2005 and 2006 and prior to be combined with later years.
