World Kidney Day flyer

By Hawaii State Senate

Honolulu – Today is World Kidney Day and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii will brief lawmakers this afternoon on the increasing prevalence of kidney disease in our community. The event is co-hosted by Senate Committee on Health Chair Josh Green.

The latest statistics show that more than 162,000 people in Hawaii are fighting chronic kidney disease. One in every seven people is dealing with this illness, which is 30% higher than the national average. Asians and Pacific Islanders are 2 to four times more likely to reach end stage kidney disease.

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is when your kidneys cannot function without dialysis, or a transplant. Dialysis costs Medicare approximately $90,000 per patient, per year. These patients represent approximately one percent of the Medicare population and consume eight percent of the entire Medicare budget.

Others updating lawmakers will be from dialysis clinics and the Queen’s Transplant Center. Today, more than 400 people in Hawaii are waiting for an organ transplant – 90 percent of them need a kidney

What: World Kidney Day Presentation to Lawmakers
When: March 14, 2013, 12:30 p.m.
Where: State Capitol, room 224

The mission of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and to increase the availability of all organs and tissue for transplantation in Hawaii. For more information, please visit www.kidneyhi.org