Nevada faces a growing and multifaceted kidney disease burden. Over the past decade, the number of Nevadans living with kidney failure has increased by more than half, driven primarily by rising rates of diabetes and hypertension — two conditions that together account for nearly three-quarters of all kidney failure cases in the state. More than 7,700 Nevadans now live with kidney failure, the vast majority of whom depend on dialysis to survive.
Kidney disease in Nevada encompasses a spectrum of conditions: end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or transplantation, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affecting a significant share of adults, and kidney and renal pelvis cancers that claim roughly 140 lives per year. Each of these conditions carries substantial human and economic costs, placing pressure on patients, families, healthcare providers, and the public insurance system alike.
This article compiles available statistical data on kidney disease in Nevada — covering prevalence and trends, new diagnoses, transplant activity, the state’s sole transplant center, financial assistance, cancer incidence and mortality by county, and access to specialized care. Together, these figures provide a detailed picture of where Nevada stands and where the most significant challenges remain.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
State Prevalence
CKD affects a notable share of Nevada’s adult population:
- Nevada CKD prevalence: 4.1% of adults reported ever being told by a health professional they had kidney disease (excluding kidney stones, bladder infections, and incontinence)
- Nevada’s national rank: 28th among U.S. states
Medicare Patients with Kidney Conditions
The following snapshot reflects an earlier period of Medicare data for Nevada, showing the volume of patients across key treatment categories.
- Medicare patients diagnosed with CKD: 1,492
- Patients on dialysis: 3,040
- Patients with a kidney transplant: 1,450
- Patients on the transplant waitlist: 166
- Transplants performed in 2016: 63
- Patients who died while on waitlist in 2016: 0
Average annual cost to Medicare per patient
- Dialysis patient: $85,979
- Transplant recipient (after first year): $32,586
- Kidney disease test: $80–$143
The Medicare cost data clearly illustrates the economic case for transplantation: dialysis costs Medicare nearly $86,000 per patient per year, while a transplant costs just $32,586 annually after the first year — less than 38% of the dialysis cost. Zero waitlist deaths were reported for 2016 in Nevada.
Kidney Failure in Nevada
Overall Burden and Trends
Nevada has seen a dramatic rise in kidney failure over the past decade. The following table tracks the total number of Nevadans living with kidney failure, on dialysis, and living with a functioning kidney transplant across recent reporting years.
| Report Year | Living with Kidney Failure | On Dialysis | Living with a Transplant |
| 2022 | 7,208 | 5,521 | 1,687 |
| 2024 | 7,316 | 5,428 | 1,888 |
| 2025 | 7,542 | 5,468 | 2,056 |
| 2026 | 7,726 | 5,529 | 2,197 |
The total number of Nevadans living with kidney failure has grown substantially over more than a decade.
New Cases of Kidney Failure Diagnosed
Each year, over a thousand Nevadans are newly diagnosed with kidney failure. The figures below show new diagnoses by year along with the initial treatment path — transplant or dialysis:
- 2019: 1,235 new cases — 20 received a transplant, 1,215 began dialysis
- 2021: 1,193 new cases — 21 received a transplant, 1,172 began dialysis
- 2022: 1,206 new cases — 25 received a transplant, 1,181 began dialysis
- 2023: 1,149 new cases — 23 received a transplant, 1,126 began dialysis
The overwhelming majority of newly diagnosed kidney failure patients — more than 97% in every reported year — begin dialysis rather than receiving a transplant.
Leading Causes of Kidney Failure
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two dominant causes of kidney failure in Nevada, together accounting for the vast majority of all cases. The table below tracks their shares across three reporting years.
| Report Year | Caused by Diabetes | Caused by High Blood Pressure |
| 2022 | 47% | 28% |
| 2024 | 44% | 29% |
| 2025 | 43% | 30% |
Diabetes consistently accounts for the largest share of kidney failure cases — nearly half of all cases in the 2022 report. Over the reporting period, the proportion attributable to diabetes has declined slightly (from 47% to 43%), while hypertension’s share has risen modestly (from 28% to 30%).
Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer
Statewide Incidence and Mortality
Cancer of the kidney and renal pelvis affects both the incidence and mortality landscape in Nevada. The table below shows current rates for both periods available, alongside national comparisons.
| Metric | Nevada Rate (per 100,000) | U.S. Rate (per 100,000) |
| Incidence — All Sexes, 2019–2023 | 14.4 | 17.9 |
| Incidence — All Sexes, 2017–2021 | 14.0 | 17.3 |
| Mortality, 2020–2024 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Mortality, 2017–2021 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
Additional statewide figures for 2019–2023:
- Average annual kidney & renal pelvis cancer cases in Nevada: 554
- Average annual deaths: 140
Nevada’s kidney cancer incidence rate (14.4 per 100,000) is lower than the national average (17.9), suggesting relatively favorable incidence. However, the state’s mortality rate (3.6) slightly exceeds the national rate (3.4), indicating that once diagnosed, outcomes may be marginally worse — potentially related to access to specialized oncology care. The trend in both incidence and mortality rates is currently stable, with no statistically significant increase or decrease.
Cancer Incidence by County
All Sexes (2019–2023)
| County | Rural/Urban | Rate (per 100,000) | 95% CI | Avg. Annual Count | Trend |
| Elko County | Rural | 17.6 | (13.0–23.5) | 10 | Stable |
| Churchill County | Rural | 17.4 | (11.5–25.4) | 6 | Stable |
| Lyon County | Urban | 16.4 | (12.4–21.3) | 13 | Stable |
| Nye County | Rural | 16.3 | (12.2–21.5) | 15 | Stable |
| Washoe County | Urban | 14.8 | (13.4–16.3) | 90 | Stable |
| Douglas County | Rural | 14.6 | (11.0–19.4) | 14 | Stable |
| Clark County | Urban | 14.3 | (13.6–15.0) | 386 | Stable |
| Carson City | Urban | 11.7 | (8.4–15.9) | 9 | Stable |
| Nevada (State) | — | 14.4 | (13.9–15.0) | 554 | Stable |
| United States | — | 17.9 | (17.8–18.0) | 73,263 | Stable |
Rural counties — Elko, Churchill, and Nye — show the highest kidney cancer incidence rates in Nevada, all exceeding the statewide average of 14.4. Clark County, which accounts for the largest absolute number of cases (386 per year), has the second-lowest rate (14.3) among all counties listed. All county rates show stable recent trends. Despite higher rural rates, confidence intervals are wide due to small sample sizes in those counties.
Females Only (2019–2023)
Female kidney cancer incidence by Nevada county, sorted from highest to lowest rate:
| County | Rural/Urban | Rate (per 100,000) | Avg. Annual Count | Trend |
| Elko County | Rural | 12.4 | 3 | Insufficient data |
| Lyon County | Urban | 11.8 | 4 | Insufficient data |
| Nye County | Rural | 10.8 | 6 | Stable |
| Douglas County | Rural | 10.4 | 5 | Stable |
| Washoe County | Urban | 10.2 | 31 | Stable |
| Clark County | Urban | 10.1 | 139 | Stable |
Among females, Nevada’s kidney cancer incidence rate (10.1 per 100,000) is below the national rate of 12.3. Elko County again has the highest female rate (12.4), close to the national average. The pattern mirrors the all-sex data: rural counties tend to have slightly higher rates. Clark County, with 139 average annual female cases, drives the bulk of statewide volume but sits at the lower end of the rate spectrum.
Late-Stage Cancer Incidence by County (2019–2023)
Late-stage diagnosis is a critical indicator of cancer outcomes. The table below shows both the late-stage rate and the proportion of all kidney cancer cases diagnosed at a late stage.
| County | Rural/Urban | Late-Stage Rate (per 100,000) | Avg. Annual Count | % of Cases Late Stage |
| Nye County | Rural | 6.5 | 6 | 37.3% |
| Lyon County | Urban | 5.5 | 5 | 34.3% |
| Douglas County | Rural | 4.3 | 4 | 31.4% |
| Washoe County | Urban | 4.2 | 26 | 29.0% |
| Clark County | Urban | 3.8 | 104 | 27.0% |
| Nevada (State) | — | 4.0 | 155 | 28.0% |
| United States | — | 5.2 | 21,550 | 29.4% |
Nevada’s late-stage kidney cancer rate (4.0 per 100,000, 28.0% of cases) is notably better than the national average (5.2, 29.4%), suggesting that Nevada patients are more often diagnosed before the cancer has spread. Within the state, Nye County has the highest proportion of late-stage diagnoses (37.3%), while Clark County has the lowest (27.0%) — likely benefiting from greater access to healthcare screening. Rural counties tend to have higher rates of late-stage diagnosis, consistent with national patterns.
Clark County in Focus (2017–2021)
Clark County’s kidney cancer figures compared to Nevada and the U.S. in the 2017–2021 reporting period reveal a consistent pattern of slightly elevated mortality despite lower incidence.
Cancer mortality (Kidney & Renal Pelvis), 2017–2021
- Clark County: 3.5 per 100,000
- Nevada: 3.6 per 100,000
- United States: 3.4 per 100,000
Cancer incidence (Kidney & Renal Pelvis), 2017–2021
- Nevada: 14.0 per 100,000
- United States: 17.3 per 100,000
Clark County’s overall cancer incidence rate (2017–2021) was 372.0 per 100,000, compared to the U.S. rate of 444.4 — well below the national average. However, the county reported higher cancer mortality than the national average for 12 of 21 NCI-tracked cancer sites in the same period, including Kidney & Renal Pelvis.
Although Nevada’s kidney cancer incidence has consistently been below the national average, the mortality rate has remained just above it across both reporting periods (2017–2021 and 2020–2024). This discrepancy points to potential gaps in treatment quality or access to specialized care — a concern directly linked to the absence of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers in the state (see Section 5.7).
Access to NCI-Designated Cancer Centers
Nevada does not host any NCI-Designated Cancer Center. For kidney cancer patients requiring specialized oncology care, the nearest options are:
- Las Vegas metro (Clark County): City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center — Duarte, CA, approximately 248 miles away
- Reno metro (Washoe County): UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center — Sacramento, CA, approximately 134 miles away
The absence of an NCI-Designated Cancer Center in Nevada means that patients requiring highly specialized kidney cancer treatment must travel substantial distances — up to 248 miles for those in the Las Vegas area. This geographic barrier may contribute to delayed diagnoses and poorer treatment outcomes, particularly for rural Nevadans and those with limited transportation resources. This context helps explain why Nevada’s kidney cancer mortality rate slightly exceeds the national average despite lower incidence.
Kidney Transplants
Waiting List
The kidney transplant waiting list in Nevada has grown significantly in recent years. The data below shows the number of Nevadans on the list at the time of each annual report, alongside the approximate transplant rate for those listed:
- 2022: 186 Nevadans on the waiting list — approximately 3 in 4 received a transplant in 2021
- 2024: 310 Nevadans on the waiting list — approximately 1 in 2 received a transplant in 2023
- 2025: 336 Nevadans on the waiting list — approximately 1 in 2 received a transplant in 2024
- 2026: 425 Nevadans on the waiting list — approximately 1 in 2 received a transplant in 2025
The kidney transplant waiting list more than doubled from 186 (2022 report) to 425 (2026 report). While about 3 in 4 waitlisted Nevadans received a transplant in 2021, this ratio has since fallen to approximately 1 in 2 — a sign that demand is outpacing transplant capacity, even as the total number of transplants has grown.
Total Transplants Performed
The number of kidney transplants performed in Nevada has risen dramatically compared to earlier baseline years.
| Year Performed | Transplants | Increase vs. Baseline Year |
| 2021 | 138 | +206.7% since 2011 |
| 2023 | 175 | +197% since 2013 |
| 2024 | 186 | +205% since 2014 |
| 2025 | 188 | +141% since 2015 |
Kidney transplant volume in Nevada has roughly tripled compared to levels from a decade prior. The pace of growth has moderated in the most recent comparison (141% increase since 2015 vs. ~200%+ increases versus earlier baselines), suggesting a plateau may be approaching. Nonetheless, 188 transplants in 2025 represents a significant capacity compared to just a decade ago.
Living Donor vs. Deceased Donor Transplants
The breakdown between living and deceased donor transplants reveals that the vast majority of Nevada transplants come from deceased donors.
| Year | Living Donor | Deceased Donor | Total |
| 2021 | 6 | 132 | 138 |
| 2023 | 4 | 171 | 175 |
| 2024 | 7 | 179 | 186 |
| 2025 | 9 | 179 | 188 |
Living donor transplants remain a small fraction of the total — never exceeding 9 in a single year across the reported data. Despite modest percentage increases versus earlier baselines, the absolute numbers are very low (4–9 per year). This contrasts with the much larger growth in deceased donor transplants, which reached 179 in both 2024 and 2025. Expanding living donation programs represents a significant area of opportunity.
Transplant Center: UMC Southern Nevada
Nevada has one ranked kidney transplant center — University Medical Center (UMC) Southern Nevada. The subsections below summarize its program features and patient outcomes.
Donor Program Features
The following lists UMC Southern Nevada’s participation status across national donor programs:
- NKR Transplants (Last 12 Months): 0
- Prioritization for Deceased Kidney Donor: ✗
- NKR Prioritization for Living Donor Kidney: ✗
- Donor Shield Through NKR: ✗
- NKR Remote Donation: ✗
- Voucher Program (Donor): ✗
- NKR Member Center: ✗
- Equal Access Commitment Center: ✗
- Donor Referral Network: ✗
- Kidney for Life Participant: ✗
- Donor Care Network Center: ✗
- Nutcracker Care Network: ✗
Recipient Program Features
Program participation status on the recipient side:
- Kidney for Life Participant: No
- Low Eplet Transplants (Last 12 Months): 0
- NKR Transplants (Last 12 Months): 0
- Patient Microsites: No
- Microsite Center of Excellence: No
- Non-Steroidal Protocol: ?
- Voucher Program (Recipient): No
- NKR Member Center: No
- Equal Access Commitment Center: No
Adult Transplant Outcomes
The table below shows one-year and three-year survival rates for both the transplanted kidney (graft) and the patient, broken down by donor type.
| Outcome Measure | Living Donor | Deceased Donor |
| 1-Year Graft Survival | 92% | 97% |
| 3-Year Graft Survival | 100% | 89% |
| 1-Year Patient Survival | 100% | 98% |
| 3-Year Patient Survival | 100% | 93% |
UMC Southern Nevada’s transplant outcomes are generally strong, particularly for living donor recipients, who achieved 100% graft and patient survival at both 1 and 3 years. For deceased donor recipients, outcomes are also favorable at 1 year (97% graft, 98% patient survival), with modest declines at 3 years (89% graft, 93% patient survival). Notably, the center reported 0 NKR (National Kidney Registry) transplants in the last 12 months and does not participate in many national kidney exchange networks, which may limit access to compatible donors for some patients.
Kidney Disease and Kidney and Renal Pelvis Mortality Statistics
Kidney Disease Mortality
Kidney disease mortality rates in Nevada compared to the national average:
- Death rate due to kidney disease (Nevada, 2022–2024): 10.7 deaths per 100,000 population
- Age-adjusted mortality rate, Kidney Disease (Nephritis & Nephrosis), 2020–2024: Nevada: 8.4 per 100,000; United States: 13.2 per 100,000
Nevada’s kidney disease mortality rate (8.4 per 100,000 for 2020–2024) is well below the national rate of 13.2, which is a relatively positive finding compared to the broader picture of the state’s health outcomes.
Overall Mortality: Nevada vs. United States (2020–2024)
The table below places kidney disease within Nevada’s broader mortality profile, comparing age-adjusted death rates per 100,000 population across all major causes of death.
| Cause of Death | Nevada Rate | U.S. Rate |
| Heart Disease | 197.0 | 166.4 |
| Hypertension | 47.3 | 31.3 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 42.6 | 34.5 |
| Cerebrovascular Diseases | 39.8 | 39.7 |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 26.5 | 29.8 |
| Diabetes Mellitus | 23.6 | 23.7 |
| Suicide & Self-Inflicted Injury | 20.1 | 13.9 |
| Chronic Liver Disease & Cirrhosis | 16.0 | 13.4 |
| Kidney Disease (Nephritis & Nephrosis) | 8.4 | 13.2 |
| Parkinson’s Disease | 7.8 | 9.8 |
| Septicemia | 6.2 | 9.9 |
Nevada’s overall mortality rate exceeds the national average across many major causes of death. Particularly notable are hypertension (47.3 vs. 31.3 nationally — 51% higher) and heart disease (197.0 vs. 166.4 — 18% higher). Both conditions are also leading causes of kidney failure (see Section 1.3), creating a compounding health burden. Conversely, Nevada’s kidney disease mortality (8.4) is substantially below the national rate (13.2), and rates for Parkinson’s disease and septicemia are also below national averages.
Cancer Mortality by County (2020–2024)
County-level kidney cancer death rates, sorted from highest to lowest:
| County | Rural/Urban | Rate (per 100,000) | 95% CI | Avg. Annual Deaths | Trend |
| Lyon County | Urban | 4.8 | (2.8–7.7) | 4 | Insufficient data |
| Nye County | Rural | 4.5 | (2.7–7.2) | 5 | Insufficient data |
| Douglas County | Rural | 3.9 | (2.3–6.6) | 4 | Insufficient data |
| Clark County | Urban | 3.7 | (3.4–4.1) | 100 | Stable |
| Washoe County | Urban | 2.9 | (2.3–3.6) | 17 | Falling (–1.9%/year) |
Washoe County is the only county in Nevada showing a statistically significant falling trend in kidney cancer mortality (–1.9% per year), a promising development. Lyon County has the highest death rate (4.8), though the small number of deaths means this estimate carries wide uncertainty. Clark County, with 100 average annual deaths, drives the state’s overall mortality count. Nevada’s statewide rate (3.6) is slightly above the national rate (3.4), and the trend is stable.
Childhood Kidney Cancer Mortality in Nevada (2011–2021)
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer accounts for a small but notable portion of childhood cancer deaths. The table below shows the full breakdown by cancer type.
- Brain and Central Nervous System: 33.8%
- Leukemia: 29.3%
- Connective Tissue Including Heart: 9.6%
- Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Ducts: 3.8%
- Kidney and Renal Pelvis: 3.8%
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: 3.8%
- All Other Cancers: 15.9%
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer accounts for 3.8% of childhood cancer deaths in Nevada over the 2011–2021 period — tied with liver cancer and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. While brain/CNS tumors and leukemia dominate pediatric cancer mortality, kidney cancer represents a meaningful cause of childhood cancer death and warrants ongoing pediatric oncology attention.
Financial Assistance for Kidney Patients
AKF Grants to Nevadans
The American Kidney Fund (AKF) provides charitable assistance to help low-income dialysis and transplant patients afford health insurance premiums and other healthcare costs not covered by insurance.
| Year | Nevadans Assisted | Total Charitable Assistance |
| 2021 | 738 | $2,351,159 |
| 2023 | 520 | $1,574,678 |
| 2024 | 499 | $1,546,425 |
| 2025 | 540 | Not reported |
The number of Nevadans receiving AKF grants peaked at 738 in 2021 and has since declined, though 540 patients still received assistance in 2025. The drop in grant recipients from 738 to around 500–540 may reflect changes in grant eligibility, funding availability, or insurance coverage patterns — rather than a reduction in need, given that the total population living with kidney failure has continued to grow.
Insurance Breakdown of AKF Grant Recipients
The following data shows how AKF grant recipients across the U.S. were insured in each reporting year (national data).
2021
- 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%
2023
- Medicare Part B: 44.6%
- Medigap: 23.4%
- Employer group health plans (including COBRA): 17.2%
- Medicare Advantage: 1.4%
2024
- Medigap: 27.3%
- Medicare Part B: 25.0%
- Commercial Employer Group Plans (including COBRA): 20.1%
- Medicare Advantage: 0.6%
Medicare Part B and Medigap (Medicare supplemental insurance) consistently account for the largest shares of insurance coverage among AKF grant recipients, reflecting the Medicare-dominant landscape for end-stage renal disease patients.
Conclusion
Nevada’s kidney disease landscape is defined by two competing realities: meaningful progress and persistent gaps. The number of kidney transplants performed in the state has roughly tripled compared to a decade ago, reaching 188 in 2025. Transplant survival outcomes at UMC Southern Nevada are strong, and the share of kidney cancer cases diagnosed at a late stage (28.0%) is below the national average of 29.4%. Nevada’s kidney disease mortality rate (8.4 per 100,000) is also well below the national rate of 13.2 — these are genuine achievements.
At the same time, the overall burden continues to grow. More than 7,700 Nevadans now live with kidney failure — a 55% increase since 2013 — and the transplant waiting list has more than doubled in just four years, from 186 to 425. Living donor transplants remain extremely rare (fewer than 10 per year), and the state’s only transplant center does not participate in the National Kidney Registry or most national kidney exchange programs. For cancer patients, the absence of any NCI-Designated Cancer Center in Nevada means that specialized oncology care requires traveling up to 248 miles.
The leading causes of kidney failure — diabetes (43%) and hypertension (30%) — are both closely tied to lifestyle factors and systemic healthcare access. Nevada’s markedly elevated hypertension mortality rate (47.3 per 100,000, versus 31.3 nationally) suggests that upstream prevention and chronic disease management remain critical unmet needs. Addressing those needs, expanding living donation, and improving access to transplant networks and specialized cancer care represent the clearest pathways to reducing Nevada’s kidney disease burden in the years ahead.
Sources:
- Kidney Transplant Centers in Nevada
- Kidney failure Nevada: 2026
- Kidney failure in Nevada: 2025
- Kidney failure in Nevada: 2024
- Kidney failure in Nevada: 2022
- Nevada — Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) State Fact Sheet
- Indicators :: Death Rate due to Kidney Disease :: County : Washoe
- Explore Chronic Kidney Disease in Nevada | AHR
- Kidney Disease Mortality | Stats of the States | CDC
- Nevada Mortality: Quick Profile | HDPulse Data Portal
- State Cancer Profiles > Death Rates Table
- Chronic Liver Disease & Cirrhosis Death Rates Table for Nevada by County
- Incidence Rate Report for Nevada by County Kidney & Renal Pelvis (All Stages), 2019-2023
- Nevada Cancer Incidence: Quick Profile | HDPulse Data Portal
- National Cancer Centers and Cancer Rates in Nevada, 2017-2021
- Incidence Rate Report for Nevada by County Kidney & Renal Pelvis (Late Stage), 2019-2023
- Childhood Cancer in Nevada 2011-2021