Background Statement
The National Kidney Foundation was established in 1950 by Ada DeBold in an effort to save the life of her young son, Bobby. Unfortunately he passed away from nephrosis at the age of four; however, the work that Ada set in motion eventually led to a successful treatment and catalyzed a lifesaving national movement.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the NKF increased its commitment to research funding, while also raising awareness of the importance of organ donation. We recognized the need to advocate for federal support of kidney disease patients, providers, and research. From that point on, the National Kidney Foundation's leadership has been instrumental in securing legislation and funding for both treatment and research. Since 1968, the National Kidney Foundation has provided more than $100 million in research grants to the field.
During this period, we also focused on developing programs to serve kidney patients and their families, targeting the 600,000 individuals diagnosed with kidney failure. We continue to offer a broad range of programs to reach those in need.
In 1997 the National Kidney Foundation published a set of cutting-edge clinical practice guidelines for the care of dialysis patients. Since that time, our Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) has produced a total of twelve original guidelines, including the groundbreaking Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification and Stratification in 2002. These evidence-based guidelines have dramatically changed the approach to and quality of care for kidney patients worldwide.
Today, the National Kidney Foundation participates in research that is helping advance knowledge about chronic kidney disease, treatment and patient outcomes. Test results from NKF's Kidney Early Evaluation Program are studied and analyzed to help doctors find ways to improve outcomes and better treat kidney disease in specific, at-risk populations. In 2011, NKF also launched its first ever cross-sectional multi-site study that assessed how chronic kidney disease is being identified and managed in those most at risk-Type II diabetic patients.
Using the contributions of leading investigators from 45 studies, the NKF is creating and analyzing the world's largest dataset about patient outcomes at all stages of chronic kidney disease. Since it's a spectrum disease, at each stage, people experience different complications- from stroke and hypertension to infections and acute kidney disease. This research is examining how these complications impact a patient's prognosis at each stage.
NKF continues to grow and conduct stronger and more effective programs throughout the United States and around the world. As the organization leading the fight against kidney disease, we are now focusing on three major areas where we can make the greatest impact on the health and lives of millions. These include awareness, prevention and treatment. One in three Americans over age 20-73 million people-is at risk for kidney disease because of diabetes, high blood pressure or family history.
The goal of the National Kidney Foundation is to reach those at risk before kidney disease occurs, and impact those in earliest stages so that progression to later-stage disease is no longer inevitable. At-risk individuals will have the educational tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle that protects kidney health, and will be empowered to seek out testing and treatment from their physicians.
Physicians must also have the resources to detect kidney disease early and provide appropriate treatment and management to prevent disease progression. And so we are also reaching out to primary care practitioners so they will know which tests to order and how to recognize early-stage kidney disease, which will increase the total number of diagnoses of kidney disease. In addition, primary care practitioners have the knowledge and tools to treat early-stage kidney disease in order to slow its progression, and refer their patients to nephrologists when they need more specialized care.
The Foundation realizes there is still much more to do and believes that we are poised to meet the public health challenge of chronic kidney disease. Throughout our history, up until today, Ada DeBold's legacy of providing education and support to those touched by kidney disease continues to be a guiding light.