OCTOBER 2008

Staff members and volunteers for The Kidney TRUST were in Washington, D.C. in late September to bring The TRUST’s kidney disease rapid-screening program to an annual health fair sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus (“CBC”).  Over 500 people were screened over a four-day period as part of the CBC Spouses Annual Community Breakfast and Health Fair.  With the completion of the CBC event, the TRUST had screened over 3,500 people in the first year of the program.

According to the TRUST’s program director, Revkah Balingit, “CBC Health Fair organizers were especially interested in bringing kidney disease screening to the health fair this year because African-Americans are one of those groups who are at increased risk for CKD.”  Other CKD risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, a family history of kidney disease, and increasing age.  Hispanics and Native Americans are also at increased risk for the disease. MORE >>

The second annual Tour DaVita™ rolled to the finish line in Algoma, Wisconsin on September 18th with riders completing a 280-mile bike ride to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease (”CKD”) and raise funds for The Kidney TRUST.  Led by DaVita® Chairman and CEO Kent Thiry, 217 DaVita teammates participated in the four-day event.

Just a few days later, about 2,000 miles west in Tacoma, Washington, hundreds of supporters stepped out on Sunday, September 21 as part of the DaVita KAT Walks Across America™.  Tacoma was the 11th stop in a 20-city walkathon dedicated to raising money to fight CKD and benefit The Kidney TRUST. MORE >>

When you have kidney disease, it might not occur to you to have your heart checked out. Or, if you have heart disease, you might not think to have your kidneys tested. As it turns out, checking both your heart and your kidneys is a good idea if you have either kind of health problem.

Why? Because diseases that affect the kidneys can also damage your heart — and vice versa. In fact, many doctors think of the heart and kidneys as one interlinked body system rather than separate organs.

Having both heart and kidney disease can cause 20 times the risk of death from heart problems than either problem alone. In looking at more than 18,000 people, a decline in kidney function predicted a 62% higher risk of death from heart failure. Heart disease happens very early in the course of kidney disease — so even just a small decline in kidney function should trigger efforts to help protect your heart. MORE >>