For Immediate Release:
March 11, 2008

Contact:
Mary Kay Hager
573-751-6062

New Task Force Working to Reduce Kidney Disease in Missouri
March is National Kidney Month

Jefferson City-Some Missourians may not give much thought to their kidneys – until they stop working – but a new task force in Missouri created with legislation signed by Governor Matt Blunt is hoping to change that. One of the Missouri Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force primary goals is to educate the public about the importance of healthy kidneys and the danger of chronic kidney disease, a potentially fatal condition that often goes undiagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, one in nine Americans has chronic kidney disease, but many may not know it.

“We all have a personal responsibility to improve our own health by adopting healthy lifestyle habits,” Gov. Matt Blunt said.  “One of the reasons I have focused my health care initiatives on health and wellness is to emphasize the quality of life benefits that come from making healthy decisions.  National Kidney Day is an important reminder of the decisions Missourians can make today to keep our kidneys healthy.” 

“Healthy kidneys are vital to the overall health of Missourians, but they often are not appreciated until problems develop,” said Victoria Warren, coordinator of the task force and manager of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “We need to take care of our kidneys so they function effectively throughout our lifetime.”

The importance of healthy kidneys is highlighted on March 13, World Kidney Day, and throughout March, National Kidney Month.

The kidneys perform a number of vital functions in the body. They filter the blood, removing two liters of toxins, waste and water every day. They also help regulate the body’s hydration level, blood minerals and blood acid level; remove certain drugs from the blood; and release hormones into the blood that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells and keep bones healthy.

The Missouri Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force, created last year through legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Matt Blunt, began meeting in January. The group’s goals include:

• Educating the public about chronic kidney disease;
• Informing health care professionals about kidney disease screening and treatment; and
• Developing recommendations for screening programs to better identify the disease in its early stages when treatment is more successful.

If left untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to diseases that can require dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival. In 2007, more than 2,000 Missourians were diagnosed with end stage renal disease, and over 6,400 were living on dialysis in the state. More than 1,100 people in Missouri died from kidney disease last year.

Chronic kidney disease is a serious problem in Missouri for several reasons, Warren said. Three major risk factors for the disease – diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure – are prevalent in the state. Additional risk factors for chronic kidney disease include being 60 years of age or older and being African American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander. These ethnic groups have a higher risk primarily because they are more likely to have diabetes. In addition, African Americans also experience greater rates of high blood pressure.

“Preventing and treating the medical conditions that can cause chronic kidney disease through diet, exercise and medication, if necessary, is the best way to help keep your kidneys healthy,” Warren said.

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease include:

• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dry, itchy skin
• Muscle cramping at night
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Puffiness around the eyes, particularly in the morning
• Unexpected weight loss or gain

“If you have any of the risk factors or symptoms of chronic kidney disease, you should talk to your doctor about tests that can help determine how well your kidneys are functioning,” Warren added. “Early detection is vital so that treatment can help keep the disease under control.”

The Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force will be developing a statewide plan to improve kidney health in Missouri. The committee is comprised of 11 Missourians who were appointed by Jane Drummond, director of the state health department. Ten additional volunteers are working with the committee on its goals.

More information about chronic kidney disease can be found at: www.kidney.org. To learn more about the importance of the kidneys, take the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Quiz at: www.kidney.org/news/wkd/kidneyquiz.cfm.