Are You Aware: Quick Facts About Kidney Disease Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence Is Higher in Older Adults

Are You Aware: Quick Facts About Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence Is Higher in Older Adults

Approximately 15% of adults in the United States have chronic kidney disease (CKD).¹ Aging is associated with a decline in kidney function, as estimated by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), even in healthy individuals without CKD. Furthermore, declining kidney function with age occurs faster in

people who smoke or have obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure.² Lower GFR is associated with complications, such as heart disease and stroke, kidney failure, and early death.³ Thus, health care providers should pay special attention to a lower GFR when giving medicines (i.e., dosing) that are filtered through the kidneys to older individuals and CKD patients.⁴

Data from the 2015‒2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that CKD (stages 1‒4)* was present among nearly half (44%) of individuals aged 70 years or older, 22% of adults aged 60 to 69 years, 9% of adults aged 40 to 59 years, and 6% of adults aged 20 to 39 years. Advanced age is strongly associated with higher CKD prevalence because of a rise in cases of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure in middle-aged adults.⁵ CKD testing, especially in adults with conditions that increase the risk of CKD, such as people aged 60 years or older or those who have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease or kidney failure,⁵ allows for identification and management at an earlier CKD stage. Earlier treatment lowers the risk for developing complications and promotes healthy aging. Provider awareness of CKD risk factors is very important for effective decision making in treatment that includes managing heart disease and medicine dosing.

 *Adults aged 20 years or older with kidney damage (adults having protein in the urine) (CKD stages 1 and 2) or with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)—a measure of kidney function—between 15 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m² (CKD stages 3 and 4). The higher the stage, the more advanced the disease. Estimates are not adjusted for age. Adults with CKD stage 5, that is with kidney failure (eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m²), were excluded from this analysis. 

  ¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2019. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 

    Disease Control and Prevention; 2019.

  ²Bitzer M, Wiggins J. Aging biology in the kidney. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2016;23(1):12‒18. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2015.11.005.

  ³Go AS, Chertow GM, Fan D, et al. Chronic kidney disease and the risks of death, cardiovascular events, and hospitalization. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:1296‒1305.

     doi:10.1056/NEJMoa041031.

  ⁴Chen TK, Knicely DH, Grams ME. Chronic kidney disease diagnosis and management: a review. JAMA. 2019;322(13):1294‒1304. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.14745.

  ⁵Stevens LA, Viswanathan G, Weiner DE. Chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in the elderly: current prevalence, future projections, and clinical significance.

    Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2010;17(4):293‒301. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2010.03.010.