ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kidney Fund (AFK) today unveiled CKD Central, a new free online education portal offering comprehensive information and resources on chronic kidney disease (CKD). The portal’s user-friendly interface helps visitors easily home in on specific topics important to pre-dialysis CKD patients and directs them to further information. Today, more than 30 million people in the United States are living with CKD and millions more are at risk because of family history, age or concurrent health conditions.
People with CKD have lasting damage to their kidneys which usually develops over time and is most commonly caused by diabetes and high blood pressure. In the early stages of CKD, a patient’s kidneys are still able to filter out waste from the blood and perform their other important functions. With an early diagnosis, the progression of CKD to end-stage renal disease (ESRD, or kidney failure) can often be slowed down or stopped. AKF’s CKD Central uses a mix of easy-to-understand disease information, personal testimonials, infographics and videos to help people learn more about CKD. AKF’s development of CKD Central was made possible by a grant from Relypsa.
“We know from our work with patients and their families that a CKD diagnosis can be overwhelming as people try to learn as much as possible about this poorly understood disease,” said LaVarne A. Burton, president and chief executive officer of the American Kidney Fund. “Visitors to CKD Central are presented with actionable information to help manage their CKD including the importance of diet, finding the right doctor and even locating clinical trials. We designed and built CKD Central to be an easy-to-use, comprehensive resource that will help alleviate some of the confusion people feel when diagnosed with CKD.”
In developing the web portal, AKF prioritized the information most needed by people diagnosed with CKD and their families. Some of the highlighted topics include:
- CKD webinar: Available on-demand, this 60-minute educational webinar is designed to expand the viewer’s knowledge about kidney disease and the treatment options that are available.
- Anemia: As kidney disease worsens, there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. CKD Central links to resources from AKF’s ACT on Anemia campaign.
- High potassium: Technically known as hyperkalemia, high potassium occurs when the kidneys are unable to filter out the body’s excess potassium. CKD Central offers extensive information on the condition, what to do as a patient and how to address hyperkalemia.
About the American Kidney Fund
As the nation’s leading nonprofit working on behalf of the 30 million Americans with kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. AKF provides a complete spectrum of programs and services: prevention outreach, top-rated health educational resources, and direct financial assistance enabling 1 in 5 U.S. dialysis patients to access lifesaving medical care, including dialysis and transplantation. AKF holds the highest ratings from the nation’s charity watchdog groups, including Charity Navigator, which includes AKF on its “top 10” list of nonprofits with the longest track records of outstanding stewardship of the donated dollar, and GuideStar, which has awarded AKF its Platinum Seal of Transparency.