Knowing Kidney Score Could Save Lives

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(DENVER, CO) March 6, 2011—While most Americans can recite their cholesterol numbers and know their personal risk for heart disease, few have any idea if their kidneys are performing their job properly. Yet there is actually a test that measures kidney function, and since kidney disease can be silent without any symptoms, it's important to know the kidney score, according to the National Kidney Foundation. March is National Kidney Month, March 10 is World Kidney Day, and the National Kidney Foundation urges residents of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming to get their kidneys checked.

Healthy kidneys that work at 100% capacity regulate blood pressure, filter wastes and toxins from the blood and help maintain strong bones.

"In order to measure how well the kidneys are functioning, doctors perform the glomerular filtration rate—or GFR test. GFR is calculated from the results of a blood test for creatinine or buildup of waste products, as well as age, race, gender and other factors. The earlier kidney disease is detected, the better the chance of slowing or stopping its progression. In other words, knowing your GFR can save your life," says Kathy Wegner, Regional Vice President, National Kidney Foundation Serving Colorado, Montana and Wyoming.

“Anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of either of these conditions or kidney disease is at risk for developing kidney disease and must get his GFR checked on a yearly basis,” continues Wegner. “It’s a relatively easy test to perform."

According to Wegner, it’s also important to have a simple urine test to check for a type of protein called albumin, since protein in the urine is an early indicator of kidney disease.

What the Numbers Mean

It may sound complicated, but understanding GFR results is as easy as knowing a number and what it signifies in terms of kidney function. If GFR is over 90, the kidneys are healthy and functioning normally. A kidney score of 60-89 means the person should be monitored, and if GFR scores falls to less than 60 for a three-month period, that is an indicator of chronic kidney disease.

More than 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, and most don’t know it. More than 381,000 depend on dialysis to treat kidney failure and every two hours, somebody dies while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.

The National Kidney Foundation Serving Colorado, Montana and Wyoming offers free screening through its Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) for those at risk for kidney disease. For more information on upcoming screenings or GFR, visit www.kidneycmw.org or call 720-748-9991.