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Kidney Disease Statistics in Arkansas, USA

Arkansas faces one of the most severe kidney disease burdens of any state in the nation. From chronic kidney disease and kidney failure through to kidney cancer, the state consistently records rates of diagnosis, hospitalization, and death that far exceed national averages. With nearly 7,000 Arkansans currently living with kidney failure and a 54.9% increase in that number since 2009, the scale and pace of the crisis demand serious attention.

The leading drivers of kidney disease in Arkansas — diabetes (responsible for 47% of kidney failure cases) and high blood pressure (28%) — are themselves conditions that the state struggles with disproportionately. Arkansas’s mortality rate from diabetes is 48% above the national average, and its hypertension death rate is 52% higher. Kidney disease is not an isolated problem but an outcome of a broader, interconnected chronic disease crisis that touches virtually every corner of the state.

This article brings together available data on kidney disease prevalence, kidney failure, dialysis, transplantation, kidney cancer incidence and mortality, county-level variation, transplant center outcomes, and the financial burden that kidney disease places on patients and their families. Together, these statistics paint a detailed picture of where Arkansas stands — and where the most urgent needs lie.

Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease encompasses a spectrum of conditions that progressively damage the kidneys. In Arkansas, CKD affects a substantial share of the adult population and, at its most severe stage — kidney failure — requires either dialysis or a transplant to sustain life.

CKD prevalence is measured among adults who have been told by a health professional that they have kidney disease, excluding kidney stones, bladder infections, and incontinence.

Arkansas adults with diagnosed CKD (self-reported): 4.0%
Arkansas national rank (CKD prevalence): 25th
Medicare patients with CKD diagnosed: 11.35%
Medicare patients diagnosed with CKD (count): 1,724

Arkansas ranks 25th in the nation for CKD prevalence among adults. However, with over 11% of Medicare patients carrying a CKD diagnosis, the burden on the elderly and disabled population is notably high, suggesting that disease severity and progression is a significant concern among higher-risk groups.

Kidney Failure

Kidney failure (end-stage renal disease, or ESRD) represents the most severe stage of CKD and requires either dialysis or a transplant to sustain life.

Magnitude and Trends

Current burden (2022)

6,927 Arkansans living with kidney failure
5,233 Arkansans on dialysis
1,694 Arkansans living with a kidney transplant

Current burden (Medicare data)

5,918 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients statewide
4,359 Medicare patients on dialysis

New cases (2019, most recent data available)

1,334 new cases of kidney failure diagnosed
1,299 began dialysis
35 received a kidney transplant

The increase in kidney failure is a striking indicator of the worsening trajectory of kidney disease in Arkansas. The vast majority of newly diagnosed patients in 2019 — more than 97% — began dialysis rather than receiving a transplant, highlighting an enormous gap between dialysis and transplantation as treatment pathways.

Leading Causes

The two primary drivers of kidney failure in Arkansas mirror national trends but appear at elevated rates.

Diabetes: 47%
High blood pressure (hypertension): 28%

Together, diabetes and high blood pressure account for 75% of all kidney failure cases in Arkansas. Given that Arkansas has significantly elevated mortality rates from both diabetes (35.0 vs. 23.7 per 100,000 nationally) and hypertension (47.4 vs. 31.3 per 100,000 nationally), kidney failure trends are directly tied to the broader chronic disease burden in the state.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney and renal pelvis cancer is a distinct but closely related dimension of the state’s kidney disease burden. Arkansas records both an incidence rate and a mortality rate well above the national average, and significant variation exists across the state’s counties.

Statewide Incidence

Age-adjusted incidence rate (2019–2023): 22.4 per 100,000 (U.S.: 17.9)
Estimated new cases in 2025: 850
Historical total cases (2004–2008): 2,476
Historical age-adjusted incidence rate (2004–2008): 16.0 per 100,000

Arkansas has a kidney cancer incidence rate 25% higher than the national average. Estimated 2025 figures of 850 new cases underscores the continuing toll of the disease.

Incidence by County (2019–2023)

The following counties have the highest age-adjusted kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence rates in Arkansas, ranked from highest to lowest.

Highest-Incidence Counties

Rank	County	Rural/Urban	Rate (per 100,000)	Avg. Annual Cases	Recent Trend
1	Cleveland County	Rural	45.6	5	*
2	Cleburne County	Rural	35.9	14	Rising (+6.5%/yr)
3	Monroe County	Rural	34.9	3	*
4	Bradley County	Rural	31.4	5	*
5	Prairie County	Rural	30.8	3	*
6	Randolph County	Rural	30.2	7	Falling (–13.9%/yr)
7	Jefferson County	Rural	29.7	24	Rising (+4.2%/yr)
8	Clay County	Rural	29.6	6	*
9	Fulton County	Rural	29.4	5	*
10	Ouachita County	Rural	29.1	8	Stable
11	Drew County	Rural	29.0	6	*
12	Hot Spring County	Rural	28.8	12	Rising (+4.3%/yr)
13	Ashley County	Rural	28.2	8	Rising (+4.6%/yr)
14	Crawford County	Urban	28.0	21	Stable
15	Crittenden County	Urban	27.3	15	Rising (+2.8%/yr)

Note: * indicates data insufficient to calculate a reliable trend.

Lowest-Incidence Counties (Selected)

Cross County (Rural): 14.2 per 100,000 — Stable
Izard County (Rural): 15.9 per 100,000 — Stable
Baxter County (Rural): 16.5 per 100,000 — Stable
Grant County (Urban): 16.5 per 100,000 — Stable
Madison County (Urban): 17.1 per 100,000 — *

Statewide average: 22.4 per 100,000 (vs. U.S. average of 17.9)

The overwhelming majority of the highest-incidence counties are rural, reflecting the intersection of poverty, limited healthcare access, and higher rates of diabetes and hypertension that drive kidney disease risk. Jefferson County stands out as a high-volume, high-incidence county with a rising trend, warranting closer attention. Cleburne County also shows a concerning rising trend (+6.5% per year), while Randolph County is a positive outlier with a sharply falling trend.

Treatment

The two main treatment pathways for kidney failure are dialysis and kidney transplantation. Both carry significant medical, logistical, and financial implications for patients and the healthcare system. Arkansas has two transplant centers serving the state’s adult and pediatric populations.

Dialysis

Dialysis is the primary life-sustaining treatment for Arkansans with kidney failure. It is both physically demanding and financially costly.

Arkansans on dialysis (2022): 5,233
Medicare patients on dialysis: 4,359
Patients on dialysis (earlier estimate): 3,870
Average annual Medicare cost — dialysis patient (2016 data): $85,979
Average annual Medicare cost — dialysis patient (2016–2019 avg.): $79,439
More than 80% of dialysis patients cannot work
Medigap insurance available to dialysis patients under 65: No — Arkansas does not offer this

Dialysis is both a medical and economic burden. At roughly 86,000 per patient per year in Medicare costs, dialysis is far more expensive than post-transplant care. Arkansas does not offer Medigap insurance to dialysis patients under age 65, leaving many working-age patients with coverage gaps. The fact that over 80% of dialysis patients are unable to work further amplifies the socioeconomic impact.

Kidney Transplants

Transplantation offers the best long-term outcomes for kidney failure patients, but access remains limited.

Waitlist and Activity

Arkansans on kidney transplant waiting list (current): 166
Patients on the transplant waitlist (earlier figure): 207
Medicare patients on transplant waitlist: 188
Transplants performed in Arkansas in 2021: 193 (93% increase from 2011)
Living donor transplants in Arkansas in 2021: 1
Deceased donor transplants in Arkansas in 2021: 192
Transplants in 2016: 88
Kidney transplants in 2022: 152
Patients who died while on waitlist in 2016: 10
Patients who died while on waitlist in 2022: 4

Notable: Nearly every Arkansan on the kidney transplant waiting list received a transplant in 2021.

Cost of Treatment

Pre-kidney failure:$25,920
Dialysis: $79,439
First year after transplant: $23,308
After first year post-transplant: $32,586

The 93% increase in transplants from 2011 to 2021 represents significant progress, but the near-total reliance on deceased donors (192 of 193 transplants in 2021) reflects a dramatic decline in living donor transplants — a 93.3% decrease compared to 2011. Transplantation is also dramatically more cost-effective than dialysis, saving Medicare over $47,000 per patient per year after the first year. Fewer waitlist deaths in 2022 (4) compared to 2016 (10) suggests improved access, though the waitlist remains a barrier.

Transplant Centers

Arkansas has two kidney transplant centers — one adult and one pediatric.

Centers in Arkansas

Center	Type	State
The University Hospital of Arkansas	Adult	AR
Arkansas Children’s Hospital	Pediatric	AR

Program Features

Neither center participates in any of the following programs:

NKR Member Center
Equal Access Commitment Center
Voucher Program
Donor Shield Through NKR
Kidney for Life Participant
NKR Remote Donation
Patient Microsites
Non-Steroidal Protocol (status unknown for both centers)

Adult Outcomes — The University Hospital of Arkansas

Outcome Measure	Rate
Living Donor – 1-Year Graft Survival	100%
Living Donor – 3-Year Graft Survival	100%
Living Donor – 1-Year Patient Survival	100%
Living Donor – 3-Year Patient Survival	100%
Deceased Donor – 1-Year Graft Survival	94%
Deceased Donor – 3-Year Graft Survival	89%
Deceased Donor – 1-Year Patient Survival	98%
Deceased Donor – 3-Year Patient Survival	94%

Pediatric Outcomes — Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Outcome Measure	1-Year	3-Year
Living Donor – Graft Survival	100%	100%
Living Donor – Patient Survival	100%	100%
Deceased Donor – Graft Survival	100%	100%
Deceased Donor – Patient Survival	100%	100%

Both transplant centers report strong survival outcomes, with Arkansas Children’s Hospital achieving 100% survival rates across all categories. It is worth noting that higher transplant volume generally reduces the likelihood of 100% rates, and centers accepting more complex cases may show lower rates — context important when interpreting these figures. Neither center participates in the National Kidney Registry (NKR) or other collaborative programs, which may limit access to paired exchanges and other advanced matching options for patients.

Kidney Disease & Kidney and Renal Pelvis Mortality Statistics

Kidney Disease Mortality

Kidney disease deaths in Arkansas — from nephritis and nephrosis, encompassing the full spectrum of kidney disease rather than cancer alone — significantly and consistently exceed national benchmarks. The pattern holds at both the state and county level.

Statewide Mortality

Age-adjusted death rate (2020–2024): Arkansas 20.7 per 100,000 vs. U.S. 13.2 per 100,000
Average annual deaths: 793 (Arkansas) vs. 55,035 (U.S.)
Recent 5-year trend: Stable in Arkansas vs. Falling nationally

Arkansas kidney disease death rate ranks 3rd highest in the nation, exceeded only by Louisiana and Alabama.

Arkansas’s kidney disease mortality rate is 57% higher than the national average, and while the U.S. trend is falling, Arkansas remains stable. This persistent gap underscores systemic challenges in Arkansas including high rates of diabetes, hypertension, and limited access to preventive and specialty care.

Mortality by County

County-level data reveals wide variation in kidney disease mortality across Arkansas.

Highest Death Rates

County	Death Rate (per 100,000)	Avg. Annual Deaths	Trend
Ouachita County	46.5	15	NA
Bradley County	41.1	6	NA
Arkansas County	39.4	9	NA
Desha County	39.3	6	NA
Ashley County	37.7	10	NA
St. Francis County	36.5	10	NA
Howard County	35.5	6	NA
Clark County	34.4	9	NA
Clay County	33.3	8	NA
Jefferson County	32.3	26	Stable

Lowest Death Rates

County	Death Rate (per 100,000)	Avg. Annual Deaths	Trend
Benton County	8.1	25	Rising (+13.4%/yr)
Cleburne County	13.4	7	NA
Boone County	13.7	8	NA
Washington County	14.1	33	Rising (+11.3%/yr)
Carroll County	14.9	7	NA

Ouachita County’s rate of 46.5 per 100,000 is more than five times higher than Benton County’s rate of 8.1, illustrating extreme geographic inequality in kidney disease outcomes. The highest-burden counties are predominantly rural and in southern and eastern Arkansas. Notably, two of the fastest-growing rates are in the state’s most populated and relatively prosperous counties — Benton (+13.4%/yr) and Washington (+11.3%/yr) — which may reflect population aging and increasing chronic disease burden even in better-resourced areas.

Kidney Cancer Mortality

Metric	Arkansas	United States
Age-adjusted death rate (2020–2024)	4.2 per 100,000	3.4 per 100,000
Estimated deaths in 2025	160	—
Historical deaths (2004–2008, total)	672	—
Historical age-adjusted mortality (2004–2008)	4.3 per 100,000	—
Recent 5-year trend	Falling (–2.1%/yr)	Stable

Arkansas has a mortality rate about 24% above the national figure. However, the recent trend in kidney cancer deaths is falling in Arkansas (–2.1% per year) while remaining stable nationally, which is an encouraging sign.

Mortality by County (2020–2024)

The following table shows kidney and renal pelvis cancer death rates by county in Arkansas, ranked from lowest to highest mortality rate.

Rank	County	Rural/Urban	Death Rate (per 100,000)	Avg. Annual Deaths	Recent Trend
1 (lowest)	Faulkner County	Urban	3.3	5	*
2	Washington County	Urban	3.4	8	Stable
3	Benton County	Urban	3.4	11	Falling (–5.6%/yr)
4	Pulaski County	Urban	3.8	19	Stable
5	Saline County	Urban	3.8	6	Stable
6	Sebastian County	Urban	3.9	7	Stable
7	Pope County	Rural	4.4	3	*
8	Garland County	Urban	4.5	7	Stable
9	Jefferson County	Rural	4.5	4	Stable
10	White County	Rural	4.8	4	*
11	Craighead County	Urban	4.8	6	Stable
12	Crittenden County	Urban	5.9	3	*
13	Union County	Rural	6.3	3	*
14 (highest)	Lonoke County	Urban	6.6	6	*

Statewide rate: 4.2 per 100,000 | U.S. rate: 3.4 per 100,000 Arkansas national rank: 9th highest kidney cancer death rate among all states

Lonoke County has the highest kidney cancer death rate in Arkansas at 6.6 per 100,000 — nearly double that of the lowest-mortality counties. Benton County is the most positive outlier, with a falling trend of –5.6% per year. Counties with the lowest mortality rates are predominantly urban (Faulkner, Washington, Benton, Pulaski), reflecting better access to healthcare and earlier detection.

Arkansas in National Context (2020–2024)

Arkansas ranks among the highest states in the nation for kidney and renal pelvis cancer mortality.

Oklahoma — 4.8 per 100,000 (Stable)
Louisiana — 4.5 per 100,000 (Falling)
Kentucky — 4.4 per 100,000 (Stable)
South Dakota — 4.4 per 100,000 (Stable)
Texas — 4.3 per 100,000 (Falling)
Arkansas — 4.2 per 100,000 (Falling)
Indiana — 4.2 per 100,000 (Falling)
Missouri — 4.2 per 100,000 (Falling)
West Virginia — 4.2 per 100,000 (Stable)
Iowa — 4.1 per 100,000 (Falling)

Arkansas ties for 6th highest kidney cancer death rate in the nation. Its rate of 4.2 is 24% above the U.S. average of 3.4. Encouragingly, Arkansas’s recent 5-year trend is falling at –2.1% per year, one of the steeper declines among high-mortality states, suggesting that interventions may be having a positive effect.

Financial Burden

Kidney failure imposes severe financial hardship on patients and families. The American Kidney Foundation (AKF) provides targeted assistance to Arkansans struggling to afford their care.

AKF Assistance in Arkansas (2021)

796 Arkansans on dialysis and living with transplants received grants from AKF
$1,995,180 in total charitable assistance provided
Assistance covered insurance premiums and other healthcare costs not covered by insurance

Insurance Coverage

Insurance breakdown of Americans who received charitable premium assistance from AKF in 2021:

Insurance Type	Percentage
Medicare Part B	36.8%
Medigap	31.1%
Employer group health plans (including COBRA)	18.9%
Commercial plans	10.5%
Exchange	3.4%
Annuity	1.5%
Medicare Advantage	1.2%
Medicaid (in states that charge premiums)	0.1%

Medicare (Part B and Medigap combined: 67.9%) is the dominant insurer among AKF grant recipients, reflecting the heavy reliance on federal programs for this population. The near-absence of Medicaid recipients in this data (0.1%) may reflect that most states do not charge Medicaid premiums, making premium assistance grants less applicable. The $1.99 million in AKF charitable assistance underscores how even insured patients face significant financial gaps in kidney failure care.

Conclusion

The data presented in this article make clear that kidney disease is a defining public health challenge for Arkansas. The state carries a kidney disease mortality rate 57% above the national average, ranks 3rd in the nation for overall kidney disease deaths, and sits 6th for kidney cancer mortality. With nearly 7,000 residents living with kidney failure — a number that has grown by more than half since 2009 — and 1,334 new cases diagnosed each year, the disease trajectory is steep and ongoing.

Geographic disparities within the state are especially stark. Kidney disease death rates vary by a factor of more than five between the highest-burden counties (Ouachita, Bradley, Arkansas, Desha) and the lowest (Benton, Cleburne, Boone). The highest-burden areas are almost exclusively rural, in southern and eastern Arkansas, where healthcare access is most limited and rates of the two primary drivers of kidney failure — diabetes and high blood pressure — are highest. At the same time, rising trends in counties like Benton, Washington, Garland, and Faulkner signal that the disease is not contained to traditionally underserved areas.

On the treatment side, there are signs of progress: transplant volume increased by 93% between 2011 and 2021, fewer patients died on the waiting list in 2022 than in 2016, and kidney cancer death rates in Arkansas are falling faster than the national average. However, the near-complete reliance on deceased donors, the absence of NKR program participation at either transplant center, and the ongoing inability of over 80% of dialysis patients to work all point to systemic gaps that statistics alone cannot close. The financial cost — nearly $80,000 per dialysis patient per year to Medicare, compared to around $23,000 in the first year after a transplant — underscores that expanding access to transplantation and earlier intervention would benefit both patients and the healthcare system as a whole.