Chronic Kidney Disease Atlas
What Is the CKD Atlas?
The Chronic Kidney Disease Atlas (CKD҈Atlas) is an online tool that graphically maps CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, throughout the United States down to the legislative-district level.
Why the CKD Atlas?
The CKD Atlas was developed to help communities address the burden of CKD by illustrating where resources for screening, education, and treatment are most needed.
CKD is a condition, characterized by kidney damage and impaired kidney function, that progresses over time. According to the National Kidney Foundation, CKD affects 20 million Americans—one in nine adults—and more than 20 million others are at increased risk for the disease. The four most common causes of CKD are diabetes, hypertension, glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney's filtering units), and polycystic kidney disease (an inherited disorder).
Early-stage CKD may be difficult to diagnose, because symptoms are not usually apparent until the disease progresses to kidney failure—the CKD stage also known as ESRD. When the kidneys fail, dialysis or a kidney transplant is required to sustain life. Dialysis is the artificial process of cleaning wastes from the blood when the kidneys can no longer function adequately. Dialysis treatments are typically provided at dialysis centers three times per week for three to four hours per treatment.
What Do the Maps Show?
The CKD Atlas provides on-demand capacity for exploring the incidence of CKD nationwide, by state, by congressional district, and by state legislative district. Levels of incidence are color coded to relate them to the national and minority means. The maps also present critical zones (incidence in excess of the national minority mean) and areas closer to the national mean are also presented, as well as census data for demographic context.
How do I Access the CKD Atlas?
The CKD Atlas is available for exclusive use—through a password-protected link by advocacy groups and similar nonprofit organizations, government employees, and members of local and national judicial, executive, and legislative branches and their aides. To register for access, see the
Atlas User Registration, or contact the
ATLASDESK@nmqf.org.
What Data Are Used?
The CKD Atlas uses data from the United States Renal Data System. The CKD Atlas is updated periodically as new data become available.
CKD Atlas Development
The National Minority Quality Forum is solely responsible for all information presented in connection with the CKD Atlas and for compliance with applicable laws—including, without limitation, all laws governing the privacy of individuals—in the conduct of this funded initiative.
The CKD Atlas was developed by the National Minority Quality Forum and supported by a grant from Amgen. No personally identifiable information regarding the users of the CKD Atlas will be provided to any grant providers.