Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2021

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When people develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), their kidneys become damaged and over time may not clean the blood as well as healthy kidneys. If kidneys do not work well, toxic waste and extra fluid accumulate in the body and may lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and early death. However, people with CKD and people at risk for CKD can take steps to protect their kidneys with the help of their health care providers.

CKD Is Common Among US Adults

Fast Facts
  • 15%26#37; of US adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease that is about 37 million people

    More than 1 in 7, that is 15% of US adults or 37 million people, are estimated to have CKD.*

  • As many as 9 in 10 adults with CKD do not know they have CKD.
  • About 2 in 5 adults with severe CKD do not know they have CKD.

CKD by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity

According to current estimates:*

  • CKD is more common in people aged 65 years or older (38%) than in people aged 45–64 years (12%) or 18–44 years (6%).
  • CKD is slightly more common in women (14%) than men (12%).
  • CKD is more common in non-Hispanic Black adults (16%) than in non-Hispanic White adults (13%) or non-Hispanic Asian adults (13%).
  • About 14% of Hispanic adults have CKD.

Percentage of US Adults Aged 18 Years or Older With CKD*

Graph described in section above.
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CKD Risk Factors and Prevention
Testing and Treatment: Find it Early, Treat it Early
CKD Related Health Problems
People with CKD Can Lower Their Risk for Kidney Failure

*How the estimates were calculated.

Percentage of CKD stages 1–4 among US adults aged 18 years or older using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. CKD stage 5 (that is, kidney failure) was not included. These estimates were based on a single measure of albuminuria or serum creatinine; they do not account for persistence of albuminuria or levels of creatinine that are higher than normal as indicated by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes recommendations. Thus, CKD in this report might be overestimated. Estimates by sex and race/ethnicity were age-standardized using the 2000 US census population; the overall percentage is unadjusted. The number of adults with CKD stages 1–4 was estimated by applying the overall percentage to the 2019 US Census population aged 18 years or older. Blood pressure-lowering medications included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers; diagnosed diabetes was self-reported.

Note

This publication is not subject to copyright restrictions; duplicate and distribute copies as desired.

Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2021. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021.

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Page last reviewed: July 12, 2022
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention