On April 1st, the NKF, alongside a number of other regional healthcare advocacy groups, participated in the 6th Bienniall PhRMA Health Fair at the Nevada Legislative Building in Carson City.

NKF staff and volunteers from Northern Nevada screened dozens of legislators, staff members and other officials for kidney disease warning signs. The sobering results reflect what is facing many Nevada residents -- high rates of conditions that are known to cause kidney failure and heart disease:

• 81% of those screened had one or more risk factors for chronic kidney disease
• 59% of those screened had high blood pressure
• Another 25% of those screened had above ideal blood pressure or pre-hypertension
• 74% of those screened are either overweight or obese

These findings are concerning when considering the long term effects of uncontrolled high blood pressure and the health consequences of being overweight or obese (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and with these, kidney disease) both for the individual's quality of life and the burden of increasing health care costs on all Nevada state residents.

NKF provided all participants with educational materials on kidney disease and the opportunity to consult with a physician, nurse and dietician as part of the screening program.

NKF is grateful to PhRMA for sponsoring the event and to DaVita, DCI, Kidney Care Associates, Liberty Dialysis and Sierra Nevada Nephrology for their enthusiastic volunteer support and expertise. For more information on NKF's legislative advocacy efforts, please contact Robert Griffin at 415-543-3303 x 108 or robert.griffin@kidney.org.
   
To learn more about policy issues in our region, visit kidneynca.org, email action@kidneynca.org or call 415.543.3303 today!