Chronic Kidney–End-Stage Renal Disease Atlas
What Is the CK-Atlas?
The Chronic Kidney–End-Stage Renal Disease Atlas (CK-Atlas) is an online tool that graphically maps the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, throughout the United States down to the legislative-district level.
Why the CK-Atlas?
The CK-Atlas was developed to help communities address the burden of ESRD by illustrating where resources for screening, education, and treatment are most needed.
Chronic kidney disease (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 CK-Atlas provides on-demand capacity for exploring the incidence of ESRD 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 CK-Atlas?
The CK-Atlas is available for exclusive use—through a password-protected link from the National Minority Quality Forum Web site—by advocacy groups and similar nonprofit organizations, government employees, and members of local and national judicial, executive, and legislative branches and their aides. For further information on access, see the
main Atlas page, or contact the
ATLASDESK@nmqf.org.
What Data Are Used?
The CK-Atlas uses data from the United States Renal Data System. The CK-Atlas will be updated periodically as new data become available.
CK-Atlas Development
The National Minority Quality Forum is solely responsible for all information presented in connection with the CK-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 CK-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 CK-Atlas will be provided to any grant providers.