Question: How common is CKD in adults?
Answer: CKD is common among adults in the United States. Researchers estimate more than 35 million U.S. adults—more than 1 in every 7 adults—have CKD.1
Question: Which adults are more likely to develop CKD?
Answer: You are at risk for developing CKD if you have

diabetes
high blood pressure
heart and blood vessel disease, also called cardiovascular disease
family history of kidney disease

Your risk for developing CKD increases with age.1 Also, the longer you’ve had diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart and blood vessel disease, the more likely you are to develop CKD.

African Americans, Hispanic people, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders are more likely to have advanced kidney disease, including kidney failure.2 The rates of diabetes and high blood pressure that these groups experience may contribute to their kidney failure risk. Managing blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and weight if you have overweight or obesity can help slow the progression of CKD and prevent or delay kidney failure.

If you’re at risk for CKD, it’s important to get tested and take steps to prevent or slow kidney disease. Talk with family members about their kidney health, and encourage them to get tested if they’re at risk.

Watch a video about kidney disease risk.

Learn more about kidney disease statistics.
Question: What are the complications of CKD in adults?
Answer: Complications of CKD may include

heart and blood vessel disease, includingstrokeand heart attack
high blood pressure
anemia
mineral and bone disorder
metabolicacidosis
malnutrition
electrolyteimbalances in the blood, especially highpotassium

If you have CKD, you have a higher risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is a sudden loss of kidney function caused by illness, injury, or certain medicines. AKI may cause more kidney damage and worsen kidney function in the short and long term.

Living with CKD can be stressful. Talk with your health care professional about finding healthy ways to cope with stress and depression.
Question: What are the symptoms of CKD in adults?
Answer: Symptoms of early CKD

Most people in the early stages of CKD do not have symptoms, and many people have no symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. For many people, the only way to know if they have CKD is to get their kidneys checked with blood and urine tests.

People with CKD may get swelling, called edema. Edema can happen when the kidneys can’t remove extra fluid and salt from the body. Edema can occur in the legs, feet, ankles, or—less often—in the hands or face. Edema is more common when kidney disease is very advanced or when there’s a lot of protein leaking into the urine.

Symptoms of advanced CKD

As CKD becomes more advanced, symptoms may include

loss of appetite,nausea, orvomiting
feeling tired or having sleep problems
trouble concentrating
a change in how often youurinate
foamy urine
itching, numbness, dry skin, or darkened skin
weight loss
muscle cramps
chest painor shortness of breath
worsening edema

Taking steps to manage your CKD, such as with lifestyle changes and medicines, may help reduce symptoms and complications.
Question: Clinical Trials for CKD in Adults
Answer: NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including kidney disease. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.

What are clinical trials for CKD?

Clinical trials—and other types of clinical studies—are part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help doctors and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future.

Researchers are studying many aspects of CKD, such as

genetics and CKD
the relationship between kidney disease and heart disease
new ways to slow or prevent progression of CKD

Find out if clinical studies are right for you.

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.

What clinical studies for CKD are looking for participants?

You can view a filtered list of clinical studies on CKD that are federally funded, open, and recruiting at ClinicalTrials.gov. You can expand or narrow the list to include clinical studies from industry, universities, and individuals; however, the National Institutes of Health does not review these studies and cannot ensure they are safe for you. Always talk with your health care provider before you participate in a clinical study.

What have we learned about CKD from NIDDK-funded research?

NIDDK has supported many research projects to learn more about CKD. For example, NIDDK’s Chronic Renal Insufficiency Study (CRIC) and Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Study (CKiD) are examining the risk factors for progression of CKD and the link between CKD and cardiovascular disease in adults and children. Additionally, NIDDK’s Kidney Precision Medicine Project is exploring novel therapies for the treatment of kidney disease.