Kidney Month is a time for Americans to focus on chronic kidney disease (CKD), a silent killer that can go undetected until it becomes life-threatening. CKD is an often-preventable disease that is the ninth-leading cause of death in the United States. It affects 30 million Americans, most of whom are unaware that they have it.
Here are four easy ways to make an impact this month.
Test your kidney
knowledge
Take the Kidney
Month pledge
Donate to support
our lifesaving work
Advocate for living kidney donors
EMPOWER.
Kidney disease affects everyone. 1 in 3 Americans is at risk for CKD, so chances are it has impacted you or someone in your life. Kidney disease usually has no early symptoms—it’s important to be tested! There is no cure for kidney disease, but it can be treated, and many cases of kidney disease are preventable.
What do you know about kidney disease?
Take our quiz and test your kidney knowledge.
Saving lives through prevention and education
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease. AKF's national screening program reaches thousands of at-risk individuals every year.
96% of people with kidney damage or early stage CKD do not know they have it.
75 million Americans have high blood pressure.
30 million Americans have diabetes.
"Every person we prevent from having CKD is a victory."
Dr. Silas Norman
Nephrologist
Member of the AKF Board of Trustees
HEAR FROM DR. NORMAN
FIGHT.
Help AKF provide patients with access to lifesaving medical treatment and protect the rights of those who are fighting for their lives. Take our pledge and donate during Kidney Month to show kidney patients and their families that they are not alone.
Show you care during Kidney Month!
Pledge to fight kidney disease with us!
Access to lifesaving medical care
Kidney disease takes an incredible physical, emotional and financial toll on kidney patients and their families. AKF provides grants to patients to help them access lifesaving medical care.
More than 75% of dialysis patients are unable to work.
AKF provides financial help to thousands of low-income U.S. dialysis and transplant patients every year.
"When I lost my job because of kidney disease, AKF was there for me."
Elaine Milem
Transplant recipient
Member of the AKF Board of Trustees
HEAR FROM ELAINE
97 cents of every donation is spent on patients and programs.
Make a donation and your Kidney Month gift will be matched!
Advancing innovation through clinical research
Kidney disease is an underrecognized public health issue. AKF's Clinical Scientist in Nephrology program helps young scientists research how to best improve care for patients and reduce the public health burden of the disease.
Caring for people with kidney disease costs our health care system well over $100 billion a year. Yet research funding for kidney disease lags behind other diseases.
Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.