Kidney disease is one of Florida’s most pressing and under-recognized public health challenges. It is silent in its early stages — nine out of ten people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) do not know they have it — yet devastating in its advanced form. End-stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, requires lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. Florida currently has the highest rate of CKD among Medicare enrollees of any U.S. state, and more than 51,000 of its residents are living with kidney failure. It should be noted that such issues as substance abuse and uncontrolled THC detox also contribute to kidney problems.
This article brings together all available statistical data on kidney disease in Florida: the scale of the disease, who it affects most, what drives it, how it is treated, what it costs, and where new risks are emerging. The data spans from statewide prevalence surveys to Medicare claims, market analyses, occupational health studies, and clinical research. Every figure presented here is drawn exclusively from the source documents provided. Each data section is preceded by a brief introduction and followed by a concise analysis.
The picture that emerges is one of a disease shaped by age, poverty, race, and occupation — and one that is both largely preventable and dramatically underfunded in its prevention. The evidence points clearly to early detection, better management of diabetes and hypertension, and targeted support for vulnerable populations as the most impactful levers available.
Kidney Failure (End-Stage Renal Disease) in Florida
Overall Burden of Kidney Failure
The table below tracks the population of Floridians living with end-stage renal disease across three reporting years, broken down by treatment type. Without dialysis or a transplant, kidney failure is fatal.
| Measure | 2021 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Total living with kidney failure | 48,215 | 51,100 | 51,762 |
| On dialysis | 34,847 | 36,132 | 35,981 |
| Living with kidney transplant | 13,368 | 14,968 | 15,781 |
The total number of Floridians living with kidney failure increased by 45% since 2011 (per 2024 data) and by 40% since 2012 (per 2025 data), confirming a steady long-term upward trend. While dialysis remains the dominant treatment, the number of transplant recipients has grown from 13,368 in 2021 to 15,781 in 2025, suggesting modest progress in transplant access.
New Cases Diagnosed Each Year
This list summarizes newly diagnosed kidney failure cases in Florida across three data years, and how patients entered treatment upon diagnosis.
- 2018: 8,914 new cases — 8,699 began dialysis, 215 received a transplant
- 2021: 9,517 new cases — 9,334 began dialysis, 183 received a transplant
- 2022: 9,024 new cases — 8,788 began dialysis, 236 received a transplant
The vast majority of newly diagnosed kidney failure patients begin dialysis rather than receiving a transplant. In 2022, only 236 out of 9,024 new cases (about 2.6%) received a transplant at diagnosis. This reflects the severe shortage of donor kidneys and the logistical barriers to transplantation.
Kidney Transplant Waiting List and Transplants Performed
Only about 1 in 3 Floridians on the kidney transplant waiting list received a transplant in both 2023 and 2024. The table below captures the transplant landscape across reporting years.
| Measure | 2020/2021 | 2023 | 2024 |
| On transplant waiting list | 4,336 | 4,528 | 4,822 |
| Transplants performed in Florida | 1,693 (2020) | 1,835 | 1,734 |
| Living donor transplants | N/A | 336 | 361 |
| Deceased donor transplants | N/A | 1,499 | 1,373 |
| Increase vs. 10 years prior | N/A | +83% vs. 2013 | +67% vs. 2014 |
| Increase in living donor tx vs. 10 yrs prior | N/A | +23% vs. 2013 | +60% vs. 2014 |
While transplant volumes have grown substantially over the decade (up 83% in 2023 vs. 2013), the waiting list continues to grow faster than the supply of organs — from 4,336 in 2020 to 4,822 in 2024. Living donor transplants show meaningful growth (up 60% in 2024 vs. 2014), a positive trend worth monitoring.
Leading Causes of Kidney Failure
Diabetes and high blood pressure together account for nearly three-quarters of all kidney failure cases in Florida. Figures are consistent across both the 2024 and 2025 reporting datasets:
- Diabetes: 44% of cases (2024) / 43% (2025)
- High blood pressure (hypertension): 29% of cases (2024) / 30% (2025)
- Combined total from these two causes: 73% in both years
The consistency across years confirms diabetes and hypertension as the dominant drivers of kidney failure. Both conditions are largely preventable and manageable through lifestyle change and medication, underscoring the potential for early intervention to reduce ESRD burden.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Prevalence in Florida
Overall CKD Prevalence
CKD prevalence is the percentage of adults who reported being told by a health professional that they had kidney disease, excluding kidney stones, bladder infection, and incontinence. Key headline figures for Florida:
- Overall CKD rate: 4.5% — Florida rank: 37th out of 49 states
- CKD prevalence among Medicare FFS enrollees: 28% — the highest of any U.S. state (vs. a low of 16% in Montana and Wyoming)
- CKD prevalence among Medicaid beneficiaries (ages 18–64): 17.8% — also the highest of any state
This elevated burden in the elderly Medicare population reflects Florida’s older demographic profile combined with high rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
CKD Prevalence by Sex
Florida’s CKD rates by sex, compared to other states:
| Group | Florida Value | Florida Rank |
| Female | 4.9% | 38 / 49 |
| Male | 4.2% | 38 / 49 |
Women report slightly higher CKD rates than men in Florida (4.9% vs. 4.2%), and both rank 38th of 49 states. This pattern may partly reflect women’s greater utilization of healthcare and more frequent diagnosis relative to men.
CKD Prevalence by Age Group
CKD rates by age group, showing how dramatically risk increases with age in Florida:
- Ages 18–44: 2.5% — Florida rank: 44 / 44 (last among all states tracked)
- Ages 45–64: 4.0% — Florida rank: 24 / 49
- Ages 65+: 8.2% — Florida rank: 15 / 49
CKD Prevalence by Race and Ethnicity
CKD rates by race and ethnicity across Florida, with Florida’s national ranking among states:
| Race / Ethnicity | Florida Value | Florida Rank |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 3.1% | 1 / 29 (lowest) |
| Hispanic (all races) | 5.0% | 24 / 24 (highest) |
| Non-Hispanic White | 4.7% | 41 / 49 |
Florida’s non-Hispanic Black population has the lowest diagnosed CKD rate among all states (1st of 29 at 3.1%), suggesting possible underdiagnosis — despite Black Americans nationally being 4.3x more likely to develop kidney failure than white Americans. Hispanic Floridians rank last (24th of 24) with the highest CKD rate (5.0%) of all Hispanic state populations tracked.
CKD Prevalence by Educational Attainment
CKD rates vary significantly by education level. Florida’s national rankings among states are shown for each group:
- Less than high school (age 25+): 4.0% — Florida rank: 2 / 35
- High school grad / GED: 6.2% — Florida rank: 43 / 49
- Some post-high school education: 4.1% — Florida rank: 9 / 49
- College graduate: 4.4% — Florida rank: 47 / 49
Unexpectedly, Florida’s highest CKD rate by education is among high school graduates, not among the least educated. College graduates in Florida also rank poorly, which may reflect the comparatively older age of Florida’s college-educated retiree population — age being a stronger predictor of CKD than education level alone.
CKD Prevalence by Household Income
Lower income is consistently associated with higher CKD rates. The table below shows Florida’s values and national rankings across all income bands:
| Household Income | Florida Value | Florida Rank |
| Less than $25,000 | 8.3% | 32 / 48 |
| $25,000 – $49,999 | 4.7% | 6 / 49 |
| $50,000 – $74,999 | 4.3% | 22 / 45 |
| $75,000 – $99,999 | 2.6% | 5 / 43 |
| $100,000 – $149,999 | 4.3% | 37 / 40 |
| $150,000 or more | 3.4% | 30 / 31 |
The lowest-income Floridians carry the heaviest CKD burden at 8.3% — more than three times the rate of those earning $75,000–$99,999. Florida ranks particularly high for CKD among the $25,000–$49,999 income group (6th of 49), suggesting this group may face unique barriers to prevention or early treatment in Florida specifically.
CKD Prevalence by Disability Status
Adults with disabilities show substantially higher CKD rates than those without. Florida’s rankings among disability subgroups are particularly notable:
- Difficulty with mobility: 13.2% — Florida rank: 34 / 49
- Difficulty hearing: 11.0% — Florida rank: 35 / 47
- Difficulty with self-care: 11.0% — Florida rank: 15 / 47
- Independent living difficulty: 10.8% — Florida rank: 27 / 49
- Difficulty seeing: 10.7% — Florida rank: 24 / 44
- Difficulty with cognition: 9.4% — Florida rank: 49 / 49 (highest nationally)
- Without any disability: 2.5% — Florida rank: 28 / 49
Floridians with mobility difficulties have the highest CKD rate in this group (13.2%), and those with cognitive difficulties rank dead last nationally (49th of 49) at 9.4% — Florida has the highest CKD rate among cognitively impaired adults of any state. Adults without any disability have a rate of just 2.5%, underscoring how dramatically disability intersects with kidney disease risk.
CKD Prevalence by Geography and Veteran Status
CKD rates differ by place of residence and military service history:
| Group | Florida Value | Florida Rank |
| Metropolitan (urban) residents | 4.5% | 37 / 49 |
| Non-metropolitan (rural) residents | 4.7% | 28 / 43 |
| Never served in armed forces | 4.3% | 41 / 49 |
| Served in armed forces (veterans) | 6.4% | 33 / 47 |
Rural Floridians have a slightly higher CKD rate than urban residents (4.7% vs. 4.5%), consistent with national trends showing rural populations face greater barriers to preventive care. Veterans in Florida have a substantially higher CKD rate (6.4%) than non-veterans (4.3%) — a 49% higher rate that warrants targeted screening and intervention programs for this population.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Kidney Failure
Relative Risk of Developing Kidney Failure vs. White Americans
Kidney disease disproportionately affects communities of color. The table below documents the elevated risk of developing kidney failure for racial and ethnic minorities compared to white Americans, across two reporting years:
| Population Group | 2024 Data | 2025 Data |
| Black Americans | 4.3x greater | 4.3x greater |
| American Indians | 2.3x greater | 2.3x greater |
| Asian Americans | 1.6x greater | 1.6x greater |
| Hispanic/Latino Americans | 2.2x greater | 2.3x greater |
These figures are consistent across both reporting years, confirming the durability of racial health disparities in kidney failure. Black Americans remain the most disproportionately affected group at 4.3x the risk of white Americans. Hispanic/Latino risk edged up from 2.2x to 2.3x between the 2024 and 2025 datasets.
American Kidney Fund Financial Assistance by Race — National Data
The proportion of kidney failure patients receiving AKF charitable assistance by race reveals the relative financial hardship faced by different groups. Data shown for both 2024 and 2025 reporting years:
- White Americans with kidney failure: 1 in 21 (2024) / 1 in 20 (2025)
- Black Americans with kidney failure: 1 in 12 (2024) / 1 in 13 (2025)
- Hispanic/Latino Americans with kidney failure: 1 in 10 (both years)
This indicates much deeper financial vulnerability among minority patients, consistent with greater poverty rates and the employment barriers imposed by dialysis dependency.
Financial Burden of Kidney Disease
American Kidney Fund Assistance to Florida Patients
The AKF provides direct financial grants to low-income Florida dialysis and transplant patients to help cover insurance premiums and healthcare costs not covered by insurance:
| Measure | 2020 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Florida patients receiving AKF grants | 6,266 | 3,830 | 4,152 |
| Total AKF charitable assistance to FL | $25.4 million | $17,621,272 | $17,181,123 |
While the number of assisted patients dropped significantly between 2020 and 2023 (from 6,266 to 3,830), it rose again to 4,152 in 2024. The higher 2020 figures likely reflect pandemic-related emergency assistance for COVID-related costs. The AKF’s 2020 Florida patient population was 34.7% Black, 20.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 5.2% Native American/Asian/Pacific Islander.
Key Financial Facts About Kidney Failure Patients
The financial burden placed on kidney failure patients is severe, particularly for those on dialysis who are often unable to maintain employment:
- More than 80% of dialysis patients cannot work — ESRD is legally classified as a disability
- Average income of AKF-assisted patients: less than $25,000 per year
- Average out-of-pocket costs for dialysis patients: more than $10,000 per year
- Out-of-pocket costs represent approximately 28%+ of average patient income
The financial hardship facing dialysis patients is acute. With average income under $25,000 and out-of-pocket costs exceeding $10,000 annually — representing more than 28% of income — these patients face profound financial precarity. The inability of more than 80% to maintain employment makes external assistance programs such as AKF grants critical for survival.
Medicare Costs for Kidney Disease — National and Florida Data
Kidney disease imposes enormous costs on the Medicare system nationally, yet prevention and early intervention remain dramatically more cost-effective than treatment:
| Metric | Value |
| National Medicare spending for ESRD (2018) | $49.2 billion (7.2% of Medicare) |
| ESRD patients as % of Medicare population | Less than 1% |
| Annual Medicare cost: hemodialysis patient (national) | $93,000+/year |
| Annual Medicare cost: dialysis patient in Florida | $85,979/year |
| Annual Medicare cost: transplant (after first year) | $32,586/year |
| Kidney disease diagnostic test cost | $80 – $143 |
| Estimated Medicare savings per patient who avoids kidney failure | $250,000 |
| Patients who received little/no pre-ESRD care (2018) | One third |
The economic case for early intervention is overwhelming. Medicare spends over $93,000 per hemodialysis patient per year nationally, compared to $32,586 for a post-first-year transplant — a difference of nearly $60,000 per year. Most strikingly, preventing a single patient from reaching kidney failure saves an estimated $250,000. Yet in 2018, one third of all new kidney failure patients received little or no pre-ESRD care — a tragic missed opportunity.
Insurance Coverage of AKF-Assisted Patients (National)
Insurance type among Americans who received AKF premium assistance, comparing 2023 and 2024 — a significant structural shift occurred between years:
- Medicare Part B: 44.6% (2023) → 25.0% (2024)
- Medigap: 23.4% (2023) → 27.3% (2024)
- Employer group health plans (incl. COBRA): 17.2% (2023) → 20.1% (2024)
- Medicare Advantage: 1.4% (2023) → 0.6% (2024)
Medicare Part B coverage among AKF-assisted patients fell sharply from 44.6% to 25% between years, while Medigap and employer group plans rose. Florida’s Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act (2009) requires all Medigap plans to extend coverage to dialysis patients — providing over 2,000 Florida kidney patients access to secondary coverage they previously lacked.
Kidney Disease Mortality in Florida
The following table presents kidney disease death statistics in Florida from 2019 through 2023, including the crude death rate per 100,000 population and year-over-year changes.
| Year | Deaths | Death Rate (per 100K) | Change in Deaths | Change in Rate |
| 2019 | 3,244 | 9.8 | — | — |
| 2020 | 3,173 | 9.4 | -71 | -0.4 |
| 2021 | 3,445 | 10.5 | +272 | +1.1 |
| 2022 | 3,824 | 11.0 | +379 | +0.5 |
| 2023 | 3,515 | 10.0 | -309 | -1.0 |
Kidney disease deaths in Florida peaked in 2022 at 3,824 — a 20.5% increase from the 2019 pre-pandemic figure. The spike in 2021–2022 likely reflects COVID-19’s devastating impact on kidney patients: nationally, 14–30% of COVID-19 patients experienced kidney function loss, and the mortality rate for kidney transplant patients from COVID-19 was approximately 30%. The 2023 decline to 3,515 deaths may signal post-pandemic stabilization. Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death nationally.
Florida’s At-Risk Population
Diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are the primary risk factors for developing kidney disease. The table below describes the scale of at-risk conditions among Florida adults, followed by additional national risk factors:
| Risk Condition | Florida Prevalence |
| Diagnosed with diabetes | 11.7% |
| Have high blood pressure | 33.5% |
| Self-reported obesity | 27.0% |
Additional risk factors for kidney disease (national data):
- Family history of kidney disease
- Being Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or Native American
- Being over age 60
- Black Americans are 3.4x more likely than whites to develop kidney failure (national)
- Hispanics are 1.5x more likely than non-Hispanics to develop kidney failure (national)
With one in three Floridians having high blood pressure and more than one in four being obese, the reservoir of people at risk for kidney disease is enormous. Combined with Florida’s aging population — the 65+ group already has the highest state CKD rate at 8.2% — the pressure on the healthcare system will continue to grow unless prevention efforts are significantly strengthened. Notably, CKD is usually asymptomatic until late stages: nationally, 9 out of 10 people with early kidney disease do not know they have it.
The Florida Dialysis Market
Market Size and Growth
The Florida dialysis market is one of the largest in the country, driven by high ESRD prevalence, an aging population, and increasing investment in treatment infrastructure:
- Market size in 2022: $865.9 million
- Projected market size by 2030: $1.3 billion
- CAGR 2023–2030: 5.61%
- Over 90% of dialysis treatments in Florida are delivered in-center
- Dialysis chains held an 82.60% market share in 2022
- DaVita owns or manages more than 200 outpatient dialysis centers in Florida (as of April 2023)
- DaVita and Fresenius together control more than 60% of dialysis facilities nationally
The Florida dialysis market is large, concentrated, and growing robustly. The dominance of two companies controlling over 60% of national facilities raises questions about patient choice and pricing. The in-home segment is projected to grow fastest — an important development for patient quality of life and potential cost savings. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the first-ever decline in the number of US dialysis patients in the 50-year history of the Medicare ESRD Program, but the market has since rebounded.
Market Segmentation: Modality and Dialysis Type
The market is segmented by care setting (modality) and by dialysis technique, both showing strong dominance of traditional in-center hemodialysis alongside emerging home-based alternatives:
| Segment | 2022 Market Share | Growth Outlook (2023–2030) |
| In-center (modality) | 76.69% | Dominant, stable growth |
| In-home (modality) | Minority share | Fastest projected CAGR |
| SNF-based (modality) | Minority share | Growing |
| Hemodialysis (type) | 89.78% | Dominant, stable growth |
| Peritoneal dialysis (type) | ~10.22% (remainder) | Fastest projected CAGR |
Hemodialysis dominates with nearly 90% market share, driven by shorter treatment sessions and widespread adoption of arteriovenous fistulas. Peritoneal dialysis — self-administered at home — is the fastest-growing segment, reflecting patient demand for independence and policy support for home-based care models.
Key Dialysis Providers in Florida
The Florida dialysis market includes national chains and regional/independent providers, among them:
- DaVita, Inc. — national leader, 200+ outpatient centers in Florida
- Fresenius Medical Care — national co-leader
- U.S. Renal Care, Inc. — opened 4 new Southwest Florida facilities in January 2022
- South Florida Dialysis Center
- Central Florida Kidney Centers, Inc.
- Mayo Clinic Dialysis Center / UF Health Dialysis Center
- Florida Kidney Physicians (American Renal Association Boca)
- Crown Dialysis Center of Palm Beach
- Universal Kidney Centers / Innovative Renal Care / ARC Dialysis
Medicare-Covered Kidney Disease Population in Florida
Florida’s Medicare-covered kidney disease patient population, including costs and transplant outcomes:
| Medicare Metric | Value |
| Medicare patients diagnosed with CKD | 14,566 |
| Medicare patients on dialysis | 24,103 |
| Medicare patients with kidney transplant | 21,401 |
| Medicare patients on transplant waitlist | 4,486 |
| Transplants performed in Florida (2016) | 1,121 |
| Florida dialysis patients who died on waitlist (2016) | 212 |
| Average Medicare cost: dialysis patient (FL) | $85,979/year |
| Average Medicare cost: transplant after first year | $32,586/year |
| Average kidney disease test cost | $80 – $143 |
In 2016 alone, 212 Floridians died while waiting for a kidney transplant — a sobering illustration of the life-and-death consequences of the organ shortage. The contrast between the cost of dialysis ($85,979/year) and post-first-year transplant ($32,586/year) represents a major opportunity for cost savings and improved outcomes that the system has yet to fully realize.
Occupational and Climate-Related Kidney Disease
Acute Kidney Injury Among Florida Construction Workers
A 2023–2024 field-based biomedical study monitored 58 construction workers in Central Florida before and after a single workday — the first US study of its kind to document AKI, dehydration, and heat-related illness (HRI) in this workforce. Key findings:
- Mean heat index on study days: 88.4°F (summer average: 95.5°F)
- Workers reporting at least 1 HRI symptom: 42%
- Dehydration pre-shift: 75% / post-shift: 78%
- Severe dehydration pre-shift: 16% — post-shift: 33% (doubled)
- Acute kidney injury (any stage): 38% of workers
- AKI Stage 1: 35% / AKI Stage 2: 3%
- eGFR < 90 mL/min pre-shift: 4% — post-shift: 23%
- Median serum creatinine: 0.8 mg/dL (pre-shift) → 1.0 mg/dL (post-shift)
- Median eGFR: 126.0 → 108.5 mL/min/1.73m²
- Workers with employer-provided shade: 7% / HRI training in past year: 7%
- Workers consuming soda at work: 83%
- Median water consumption: 64 oz (recommended for 9-hour shift in heat: 216+ oz)
Study sample profile: 98% male; median age 31 years; 79% residential construction; 9 hours median workday; 49% from Mexico, 21% from Guatemala; 72% had employer-provided water.
In a single workday, 38% of workers developed AKI — comparable to rates seen in agricultural worker studies (10–43%). Severe dehydration doubled from pre-shift to post-shift. Workers consumed only 64 oz of water on average — less than one-third of what is recommended. With only 7% having access to employer-provided shade and only 7% having received HRI training, the workplace safety environment is dangerously inadequate.
Climate-Related Kidney Disease in Palm Beach County Agricultural Workers
A retrospective study analyzed hospital discharge data from 2008–2017 in Palm Beach County’s sugar cane farming region, examining whether Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN) — chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology linked to heat stress — was occurring among Hispanic agricultural workers in Florida. The study covered the three relevant zip codes (33430, 33476, 33493) and their only hospital.
| Study Finding | Result |
| Total patients meeting criteria (2008–2017) | 469 patients |
| % Male / % Hispanic / % Black | 56.1% / 85.3% / 76.8% |
| Average patient age | 56.4 years (SD: 23.7) |
| Kidney disease rate ratio: males vs. females | 1.28x greater for males |
| Kidney disease rate ratio: Hispanics vs. non-Hispanics | 3.70x greater for Hispanics |
| Rate ratio: female Hispanic vs. female non-Hispanic | 3.27x greater |
| Rate ratio: male Hispanic vs. male non-Hispanic | 2.01x greater |
| Temperature correlation with kidney disease found? | No significant correlation over 10-year period |
Hispanic residents in the Palm Beach County sugar cane belt showed a 3.70x greater rate of kidney disease diagnoses compared to non-Hispanics — far exceeding their population share. Poverty rates (31.8%–42.1%) are 2–3 times the Florida average of 13.6%, and uninsurance rates are substantially elevated. While no statistically significant temperature correlation was found over the 10-year period, the authors note the timeframe may be too short to detect gradual climate-related trends. Palm Beach County has over 118,000 agricultural workers and leads the US in sugar cane production.
Key National Kidney Disease Facts
The following national figures provide essential context for understanding Florida’s kidney disease burden within the broader U.S. picture:
- More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease; millions more are at risk
- 9 out of 10 people with early kidney disease do not know they have it — usually asymptomatic until late stages
- Simple blood and urine tests can detect kidney disease early
- If caught and treated early, it is often possible to slow or stop the progress of kidney disease
- More than 785,000 Americans are living with kidney failure — over 100% increase since 2000
- Approximately 555,000 are on dialysis nationally; nearly 230,000 are living with kidney transplants
- Each month, almost 11,000 new cases of kidney failure are diagnosed in the U.S.
- Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States
- Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease nationally
- Kidney disease can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and death
The fact that 9 in 10 people with early kidney disease are undiagnosed represents both the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity in kidney health. Early detection through routine screening — particularly among high-risk groups (diabetics, hypertensives, racial minorities, adults over 60) — could prevent enormous suffering and save the healthcare system hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient who never reaches kidney failure.
Conclusion
Florida has one of the fastest-growing and most severe kidney disease burdens in the U.S., with over 51,000 residents living with kidney failure — a number that has climbed about 40–45% in the past decade and continues to rise due to aging and high rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The impact is deeply unequal: Black Americans and low-income residents face much higher risk, Hispanic/Latino Floridians have among the highest chronic kidney disease rates nationwide, and groups like veterans, rural residents, and people with disabilities carry disproportionate burdens while often lacking adequate care.
The costs are enormous: dialysis is far more expensive than transplants, yet thousands remain on waiting lists, and most dialysis patients are unable to work. Emergency research shows workplaces with heat stress (like construction and agriculture) are linked to acute kidney injury and chronic disease in high percentages of workers.
The data point to clear solutions — earlier detection, prevention of underlying conditions, improved access to care, heat-safety standards for workers, and targeted outreach — which could save lives and reduce healthcare spending, but these require stronger policy and public health responses.
Sources:
- Explore Chronic Kidney Disease in Florida | AHR
- Kidney failure (ESRD) – in Florida
- Kidney failure in Florida: 2024
- Data Snapshot Chronic Kidney Disease
- Kidney failure in Florida: 2025
- Kidney Disease Mortality | Stats of the States | CDC
- Home Dialysis Services in Florida | Dialyze Direct
- CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PRIORITY
- An Update from the National Kidney Foundation of Florida – Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
- Assessing Climate Related Kidney Disease in Palm Beach County, Florida
- Florida Dialysis Centers Market Size & Share Report, 2030
- Identification and Care of Patients with CKD
- Florida: State-by-State Resources
- Florida Dialysis Centers Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report 2023
- Acute Kidney Injury Among Florida Construction Workers: A Pilot Study – PMC