Isle kidney failure rate high, awareness low

Hawaii's ethnic composition raises the risk for illnesses, a support group says

By Susan Essoyan

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 15, 2013

~~<p>Hawaii residents have a 30 percent greater chance of suffering kidney failure than the national average, but many people in the early stages of kidney disease have no idea they have it, according to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.</p>
<p>"The problem is that awareness of chronic kidney disease is very low," Glen Hayashida, chief executive officer of the foundation, said Thursday at an event marking World Kidney Day. "When your kidney fails, you know it. The kidney is a vital organ. But in the early stages of kidney disease, there is almost no awareness."</p>
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Hawaii residents have a 30 percent greater chance of suffering kidney failure than the national average, but many people in the early stages of kidney disease have no idea they have it, according to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.

"The problem is that awareness of chronic kidney disease is very low," Glen Hayashida, chief executive officer of the foundation, said Thursday at an event marking World Kidney Day. "When your kidney fails, you know it. The kidney is a vital organ. But in the early stages of kidney disease, there is almost no awareness." Login for more...