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Kidney Disease Statistics in New York, USA

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing and often overlooked public health crisis in New York State. More than 2.2 million adults are estimated to have CKD, yet only a fraction know they are affected, as symptoms often appear only after significant, irreversible damage has occurred. Prevalence has risen sharply in recent years, driven largely by increasing rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. The increasing rates of substance abuse and uncontrolled THC detox have also contributes to the intensification of this problem.

The burden falls disproportionately on communities of color, lower-income residents, older adults, and people with disabilities. Black New Yorkers are more than four times as likely as White residents to develop kidney failure, while Hispanic and Latino populations face more than double the risk. For many, the financial strain is severe, and patients who progress to end-stage renal disease must rely on lifelong dialysis or a transplant, with thousands remaining on waiting lists each year.

This article provides a comprehensive, data-driven picture of kidney disease prevalence, disparities, treatment, mortality, and quality of care across the state.

Overview: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in New York

Chronic kidney disease is the progressive, gradual loss of kidney function, resulting in a decreased ability of the kidneys to remove waste from the body. It is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in New York State, with millions of residents affected but unaware of their condition.

Indicator	Value
Adults in New York State affected by CKD	2,220,000+
Adults aware of their CKD diagnosis	~266,000 (~1 in 8)
CKD prevalence in New York (2019)	2.5%
CKD prevalence in New York (2024)	3.7%
People with CKD unaware of their condition	Up to 9 in 10
At-risk individuals tested appropriately	Less than 13%
CKD rank as cause of death in the U.S.	9th leading cause
U.S. adults with CKD	1 in 7 (~35.5 million)

The vast gap between actual CKD prevalence (2.2 million+) and diagnosed cases (~266,000) in New York represents a serious public health challenge. With less than 13% of at-risk individuals being tested appropriately, the majority of CKD cases go undetected until severe stages, drastically limiting opportunities for early intervention.

Risk Factors for CKD in New York

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease in New York and nationwide. Other risk factors include family history, race/ethnicity, and age.

Prevalence of Major Risk Conditions in New York State

High blood pressure (diagnosed): 30% of adults
Diabetes (diagnosed): 10.5% of adults (self-reported)
Obesity (self-reported): 27.1% of adults

Additional Risk Factors

Beyond these diagnosed conditions, additional demographic and clinical factors are also associated with greater risk for chronic kidney disease.

Family history of kidney disease
Being Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or Native American
Being over 60 years of age
Having high blood pressure or diabetes

New York’s rates of hypertension (30%) and diabetes (10.5%+) create a large at-risk population. Since these two conditions account for the vast majority of kidney failure cases — 43–44% from diabetes and 29–30% from high blood pressure — addressing these upstream conditions is the most direct path to reducing the CKD burden in the state.

CKD Prevalence by Demographic Group in New York

New York State data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) captures self-reported CKD diagnoses across a wide range of demographic subgroups. The figures below represent adults who reported ever being told by a health professional that they had kidney disease (excluding kidney stones, bladder infections, and incontinence).

By Sex

Overall (all adults): 3.7% — ranked 16th among 49 states
Female: 3.4% — ranked 4th among 49 states
Male: 4.1% — ranked 35th among 49 states

Males in New York have a higher reported CKD rate (4.1%) than females (3.4%). Notably, New York ranks very high (4th) among states for female CKD diagnoses, suggesting women in New York are diagnosed at relatively higher rates compared to other states.

By Age Group

Age Group	NY Value	NY State Rank
18–44 years	1.4%	24 / 44
45–64 years	3.8%	19 / 49
65+ years	7.9%	11 / 49

CKD prevalence rises sharply with age — from 1.4% among young adults to 7.9% among those 65 and older. New York ranks 11th in the nation for CKD among seniors, indicating a significant burden in its rapidly growing elderly population.

By Race/Ethnicity

Hispanic: 4.6% — ranked 23rd among 24 states
Other Race (non-Hispanic): 4.7% — not ranked
Black (non-Hispanic): 3.8% — ranked 4th among 29 states
White (non-Hispanic): 3.6% — ranked 14th among 49 states
Asian (non-Hispanic): 2.2%

National disparities context:

Black Americans are 4.3x more likely to develop kidney failure than White Americans.
American Indians are 2.3x more likely.
Asian Americans are 1.6x more likely.
Hispanic/Latino individuals are 2.2–2.3x more likely than non-Hispanic/Latino individuals.
Black individuals make up approximately 13% of the U.S. population but account for 35% of kidney failure cases nationally.

New York’s Black population ranks 4th in the nation for CKD prevalence among Black adults (3.8%), reflecting the well-documented national disparity. Hispanic New Yorkers also show elevated rates. These disparities are driven by higher rates of diabetes and hypertension in these communities, compounded by socioeconomic barriers to care.

By Education Level

Education Level	NY Value	NY State Rank
Less than high school	5.9%	16 / 35
High school grad / GED	4.6%	25 / 49
Some post-high school	4.6%	20 / 49
College graduate	3.0%	12 / 49

A clear inverse relationship exists between educational attainment and CKD prevalence. Adults without a high school diploma report CKD at nearly twice the rate of college graduates (5.9% vs. 3.0%). Education is closely tied to health literacy, access to preventive care, and healthier behaviors — all factors that influence CKD risk.

By Household Income

Less than $25,000/year: 6.9% — ranked 15th among 48 states
$25,000–$49,999/year: 5.0% — ranked 13th among 49 states
$50,000–$74,999/year: 3.4% — ranked 8th among 45 states
$75,000–$99,999/year: 3.1% — ranked 11th among 43 states
$100,000–$149,999/year: 2.7% — ranked 18th among 40 states
$150,000 or more/year: 2.2% — ranked 19th among 31 states

Income shows the strongest gradient of any demographic variable. New Yorkers earning under $25,000/year report CKD at more than three times the rate of those earning $150,000+ (6.9% vs. 2.2%). This reflects both increased exposure to risk factors in lower-income communities and reduced access to preventive care and early diagnosis.

By Disability Status

Disability Type	NY Value	NY State Rank
Difficulty with self-care	15.0%	32 / 47
Independent living difficulty	12.3%	40 / 49
Difficulty with mobility	12.0%	20 / 49
Difficulty hearing	9.8%	25 / 47
Difficulty seeing	9.5%	13 / 44
Difficulty with cognition	7.4%	35 / 49
No disability	2.1%	12 / 49

CKD rates are dramatically elevated among people with disabilities — 15.0% among those with self-care difficulties versus 2.1% among people without any disability. This likely reflects both the role of CKD itself in causing disability and the clustering of chronic conditions in this population. The especially high rate for mobility and independent living difficulties suggests that many disabled New Yorkers face a compounded disease burden.

By Geographic Setting and Veteran Status

Metropolitan (urban) residents: 3.7% — ranked 17th among 49 states
Non-metropolitan (rural) residents: 4.3% — ranked 20th among 43 states
Veterans (served in armed forces): 6.2% — ranked 31st among 47 states
Non-veterans (never served): 3.5% — ranked 13th among 49 states

Rural New Yorkers have a higher CKD rate than urban residents, consistent with national patterns of reduced healthcare access outside metropolitan areas. Veterans show a substantially elevated CKD rate (6.2% vs. 3.5%), possibly reflecting service-related exposures, higher rates of trauma, and older average age of the veteran population.

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD / Kidney Failure) in New York

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final, permanent stage of kidney disease, where the kidneys can no longer function well enough to meet the body’s needs. Without treatment — dialysis or a transplant — ESRD is fatal.

ESRD Population Over Time

Year	Total Living with Kidney Failure	On Dialysis	Living with Transplant
2020/2021	50,377	34,927	15,450
2023/2024 (2024 report)	50,460	33,630	16,830
2024/2025 (2025 report)	50,921	33,373	17,548

Renal care resources in New York State are extensive and continue to expand to meet growing demand.

The total number of New Yorkers living with kidney failure has increased by 24% since 2011 (per 2024 data) and by 22% since 2012 (per 2025 data).
There are 350 Medicare-certified dialysis facilities, 14 transplant centers, and 7 VA hospitals serving renal patients in New York State.

While the total ESRD population has remained relatively stable around 50,000–51,000 since 2021, a positive trend is visible: the number of transplant recipients is growing (from 15,450 to 17,548) while dialysis dependence is slowly declining. This likely reflects the success of transplant expansion initiatives, including Project ECHO DATE.

New Cases of Kidney Failure Diagnosed in New York

New cases of kidney failure in New York State and corresponding treatments over recent years are as follows:

2018: 8,292 new cases — 310 received a transplant; 7,982 began dialysis
2021: 7,778 new cases — 299 received a transplant; 7,479 began dialysis
2022: 7,594 new cases — 385 received a transplant; 7,209 began dialysis

The number of new ESRD diagnoses per year is declining modestly — from 8,292 in 2018 to 7,594 in 2022. The proportion receiving a transplant at diagnosis has increased from 3.7% to 5.1%, a positive indicator, but dialysis remains the dominant initial treatment for the vast majority of new cases.

Leading Causes of Kidney Failure in New York

Cause	2024 Data (% of cases)	2025 Data (% of cases)
Diabetes	44%	43%
High blood pressure	29%	30%

Diabetes and high blood pressure together account for approximately 73% of all kidney failure cases in New York — figures consistent with national trends. Since both conditions are largely preventable and manageable, earlier intervention in primary care could substantially reduce ESRD incidence.

ESRD Treatment Modalities in New York (ESRD Network 2)

Incidence (2017–2021)

In-center hemodialysis: 35,049 patients — 89.2% of new cases
Peritoneal dialysis: 2,508 patients — 6.4% of new cases
Preemptive transplant: 1,422 patients — 3.6% of new cases
Home hemodialysis: 252 patients — 0.6% of new cases

Prevalence (Current Patients)

Modality	N (prevalence)	% of Network
In-center hemodialysis	32,777	63.5%
Transplant	16,151	31.3%
Peritoneal dialysis	1,994	3.9%
Home hemodialysis	558	1.1%

New York has one of the highest rates of in-center hemodialysis utilization in the nation (89.2% at incidence). The peritoneal dialysis rate (6.4%) is the lowest among all ESRD networks nationally, compared to 13.8% in Northern California. Increasing home modalities and transplantation is a stated goal of ESRD Network 2 and was estimated to have saved $16 million for the U.S. healthcare system in 2020.

Kidney Transplants in New York

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for kidney failure, offering better survival and quality of life compared to dialysis. However, demand far outstrips supply.

Transplant Activity Over Time

2020: 1,293 transplants performed; 7,695 patients on the waiting list (~1 in 5 received a transplant)
2023: 2,185 transplants performed; 7,119 patients on the waiting list (~1 in 3 received a transplant); 95% increase from 2013
2024: 2,149 transplants performed; 7,013 patients on the waiting list (~1 in 3 received a transplant); 76% increase from 2014

Kidney transplantation activity in New York highlights both growth and ongoing demand:

543 living donor transplants were performed in New York in 2024 (a 7% increase from 2014).
1,606 deceased donor transplants were performed in New York in 2024.
Only about 1 in 3 New Yorkers on the kidney transplant waiting list received a transplant in 2023 and 2024.

Transplant volume in New York has nearly doubled over the past decade — an impressive achievement driven in part by initiatives like Project ECHO DATE. However, with approximately 7,000 patients still waiting and only ~2,150 transplants performed annually, the gap between supply and demand remains very large.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Kidney Failure

Kidney failure has a disproportionate impact on people of color. Both national and New York data document stark inequities in who develops kidney failure.

Relative Risk of Developing Kidney Failure (Compared to White Americans)

Black Americans: 4.3x greater likelihood
American Indians: 2.3x greater likelihood
Hispanic/Latino individuals: 2.2–2.3x greater likelihood
Asian Americans: 1.6x greater likelihood

NYC Older Adults: CKD Prevalence Among Those 50+ with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Race/Ethnicity	CKD Prevalence (50+, MCC)	CKD Prevalence (broader range)
Black	22.9% (22.4–23.3%)	32.7% (32.0–33.4%)
Latino	17.0% (16.6–17.3%)	25.9% (25.4–26.4%)
Asian	13.9% (13.1–14.8%)	24.1% (23.0–25.3%)
White	9.0% (8.8–9.2%)	15.8% (15.5–16.1%)

Among older New York City adults with multiple chronic conditions, Black patients have CKD at rates more than twice those of White patients. At the highest comorbidity level, nearly 1 in 3 Black patients aged 50+ carries a CKD diagnosis. These disparities reflect the intersection of structural racism, differential exposure to risk factors, and unequal access to preventive care.

American Kidney Fund (AKF) Financial Assistance — Who Receives Help

White Americans with kidney failure: 1 in 21 received AKF assistance (2023); 1 in 20 (2024)
Black Americans with kidney failure: 1 in 12 received AKF assistance (2023); 1 in 13 (2024)
Hispanic/Latino Americans with kidney failure: 1 in 10 received AKF assistance (2023 and 2024)

Financial support and economic challenges for New Yorkers with kidney disease are significant:

1,128 New Yorkers on dialysis/transplants received AKF grants in 2023 ($4,040,022 total).
973 New Yorkers received AKF grants in 2024 ($3,435,784 total).
More than 80% of dialysis patients cannot work — ESRD is classified as a disability.
Average income of patients AKF helps is under $25,000/year.
Average out-of-pocket costs for dialysis patients exceed $10,000/year.

Minority patients — especially Hispanic/Latino Americans — rely on AKF financial assistance at disproportionately higher rates. This reflects the compounding burden of higher ESRD incidence, lower incomes, and greater out-of-pocket healthcare costs in these communities. The financial strain is severe: patients earning under $25,000/year face out-of-pocket costs exceeding 40% of their income.

AKF Insurance Coverage Breakdown (2024)

Insurance Type	Share of AKF Recipients (2024)
Medigap	27.3%
Medicare Part B	25.0%
Commercial Employer Group Plans (incl. COBRA)	20.1%
Medicare Advantage	0.6%

The majority of AKF-assisted patients rely on Medicare-related coverage, reflecting the high proportion of ESRD patients who qualify for Medicare disability benefits. The 20% covered by employer plans highlights a subset of working-age patients who remain employed despite dialysis.

Kidney Disease Mortality in New York

The following data tracks kidney disease-related deaths in New York State from 2019 through 2023.

2019: death rate 9.9 per 100,000 — 2,565 total deaths
2020: death rate 10.1 per 100,000 — 2,651 total deaths
2021: death rate 9.8 per 100,000 — 2,545 total deaths
2022: death rate 9.8 per 100,000 — 2,644 total deaths
2023: death rate 9.8 per 100,000 — 2,630 total deaths

Kidney disease mortality in New York has remained relatively stable at approximately 9.8–10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, with roughly 2,500–2,650 deaths per year. The slight spike in 2020 likely reflects the impact of COVID-19, which had a significantly higher mortality rate among CKD patients (23.1% vs. 10.2% for non-CKD COVID-19 patients in NYC-area hospitals).

CKD and COVID-19 Mortality in New York

A major case study of 7,624 patients at the Mount Sinai Health System (NYC) between March 28 and April 16, 2020 examined the relationship between CKD and COVID-19 outcomes during the early peak of the pandemic, when New York City was the U.S. epicenter.

Key Findings: CKD vs. Non-CKD COVID-19 Patients

Metric	CKD Patients	Non-CKD Patients
COVID-19 mortality rate	23.1%	10.2%
Had hypertension	80.4%	20.0%
Had diabetes	56.4%	14.3%
Had COPD	7.7%	2.2%
Were obese	17.9%	5.7%
Were current/former smokers	41.0%	18.7%
Were of African ancestry	34.3%	24.1%
Were of Hispanic/Latino ancestry	34.5%	23.6%
Were 65+ years old	62.8%	36.1%

Adjusted Odds of Death (Key Variables)

CKD (yes vs. no): adjusted odds ratio 1.51 (95% CI: 1.19–1.90)
Age 65+ vs. <45 years: adjusted odds ratio 29.51 (95% CI: 18.32–47.53)
Age 45–64 vs. <45 years: adjusted odds ratio 7.91 (95% CI: 4.85–12.90)
Male vs. female: adjusted odds ratio 1.33 (95% CI: 1.14–1.55)
Hypertension (yes vs. no): adjusted odds ratio 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01–1.48)

CKD was an independent predictor of COVID-19 mortality — patients with CKD had 51% higher adjusted odds of dying, and approximately 1 in 8 COVID-19 deaths (attributable risk ~12.8%) could be attributed to CKD. The very high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among CKD patients further amplified their risk. This data underscores the critical vulnerability of CKD patients during infectious disease outbreaks.

Quality of Care for CKD Patients in New York

Several studies in upstate New York (Monroe County/Rochester, and the Buffalo/Albany metropolitan areas) have assessed how well CKD is diagnosed and managed in clinical settings.

CKD Diagnosis and Detection Rates

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence varies across New York State, and many cases remain undiagnosed:

In Monroe County (Rochester, NY), among 24,492 outpatients with two eGFR readings at least 3 months apart, 28.2% had CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²).
The rate of clinical diagnosis among those with CKD was only 26.5% — meaning 74% of CKD patients were undiagnosed by their primary care provider.
In the Buffalo/Albany region, among 168,506 insured individuals with qualifying lab data, CKD prevalence was 12% (stages 3+).

These findings highlight a substantial gap between CKD prevalence and clinical recognition, emphasizing the need for improved screening and early intervention.

CKD Testing Rates Across New York State (2013–2018)

Year	CKD Testing Rate (NY State)
2013	11.3%
2014	11.2%
2015	13.0%
2016	13.7%
2017	13.8%
2018	14.7%

Despite increasing slightly over time (11.3% to 14.7%), CKD testing rates in New York remain very low. Less than 15% of at-risk patients are tested appropriately, which is consistent with the low awareness rates statewide. The lack of a statistically significant upward trend (p=0.086) indicates that progress has been slow.

Nephrology Referral Rates in Buffalo/Albany Region

Stage 3a (13,648 patients): 69.2% saw a PCP; only 4.6% saw a nephrologist
Stage 3b (5,178 patients): 71.6% saw a PCP; only 16.7% saw a nephrologist
Stage 4 (1,292 patients): 74.8% saw a PCP; only 44.5% saw a nephrologist
Stage 5 (220 patients): 83.2% saw a PCP; 70.9% saw a nephrologist
All stages combined (20,338 patients): 70.3% saw a PCP; only 10.9% saw a nephrologist

Nephrology referral rates are critically low in early CKD stages — only 4.6% of Stage 3a patients and 44.5% of Stage 4 patients (who have severely reduced kidney function) see a nephrologist in a given year. The NKF recommends nephrology referral when eGFR falls below 30 mL/min/1.73 m², yet many patients are not referred even at advanced stages. Earlier referral is strongly associated with better outcomes.

Medication Use in CKD Patients (Buffalo/Albany Region)

Medication	Overall Usage (all stages)	Notes
RAS blockers (recommended)	58.8%	Higher with nephrology involvement (64.1% vs. 57.1%)
NSAIDs (should be avoided)	25% in Stage 3a	Declined to 5.9% in Stage 5
Statins	~53–61%	Varied by stage and nephrology care
Phosphate binders	<1% Stage 3a	17.2% Stage 4 with nephrology
ESAs	0.4% Stage 3a	17.3% Stage 5

Serious gaps in prescribing practice were documented. RAS blockers — which are recommended for nearly all CKD patients — were used by only 59% of patients. More concerning, 25% of Stage 3a patients were prescribed NSAIDs, which can accelerate kidney damage. Even among Stage 5 patients, 5.9% were on NSAIDs. These findings point to a significant need for better CKD education among primary care providers.

Preparation for Dialysis (Buffalo/Albany Region)

51.8% of ESRD patients received their first dialysis treatment as inpatients (i.e., in a crisis / ‘crash’ setting).
Only 26% of patients who developed ESRD had an arteriovenous (AV) fistula placed before starting dialysis.
Crashes were significantly less frequent when patients had seen a nephrologist in the prior year (48% vs. 68%, p<0.005).

More than half of new ESRD patients in upstate New York were unprepared for dialysis at initiation — a situation that increases hospitalizations, costs, and mortality. The clear protective effect of nephrology engagement (reducing crash rates by nearly 30 percentage points) reinforces the need for earlier and more consistent specialty referral.

Economic Burden of Kidney Failure

Kidney failure imposes an enormous financial burden on patients, families, and the healthcare system.

Indicator	Value
Medicare spending on ESRD beneficiaries (2018)	$49.2 billion (7.2% of total Medicare)
ESRD patients as share of total Medicare population	Less than 1%
Annual Medicare cost per hemodialysis patient	>$93,000
Medicare savings per patient who avoids kidney failure	~$250,000
New kidney failure patients with little/no pre-ESRD care (2018)	1 in 3
Dialysis patients unable to work	More than 80%
Average annual out-of-pocket cost for dialysis patients	>$10,000
Average income of patients AKF assists	<$25,000/year
ESRD Network 2 healthcare savings (2020)	$16 million

The economic case for early CKD detection is overwhelming. Each patient who avoids progressing to ESRD saves Medicare approximately $250,000. With over 2.2 million New Yorkers affected by CKD, even a modest improvement in early detection and management rates could translate into billions of dollars in avoided costs — while dramatically improving patient quality of life.

Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer in New York

While distinct from CKD, kidney cancer represents an additional dimension of renal disease burden in New York State.

Indicator	Men	Women
New diagnoses per year in New York State	~2,700	>1,400
Deaths per year in New York State	>400	~200

Kidney cancer in New York State shows clear demographic patterns:

Kidney cancer is more common among older people and occurs more often in men than women.
In New York State, kidney cancer occurs more often among non-Hispanic White individuals than persons of any other race/ethnicity.

Unlike CKD, which disproportionately affects minority populations, kidney cancer in New York State is more prevalent among non-Hispanic White individuals. The annual burden of approximately 4,100 new diagnoses and 600+ deaths per year in New York adds to the overall toll of renal conditions requiring state and systemic attention.

CKD Disease Burden: Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)

All U.S. states experienced an increase in CKD Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) between 2002 and 2016. New York showed one of the smallest increases, suggesting relatively better population health trends compared to other states.

State	% Increase in Age-Standardized CKD DALY Rate (2002–2016)
Oklahoma (highest increase)	32.9%
West Virginia	31.3%
Texas	30.9%
New Mexico	30.7%
Iowa	30.1%
New York	10.8%
New Jersey	6.8%
Nevada (lowest increase)	6.3%

New York’s 10.8% increase in CKD DALYs from 2002 to 2016 was the 6th smallest nationally, indicating that New York has fared better than most states in limiting the growth of CKD-related disability and premature death. However, with over 2.2 million residents currently affected and continued increases in the ESRD population (up 22–24% over a decade), the state cannot afford complacency.

Conclusion

The data show a clear pattern: kidney disease in New York State is widespread, often undetected, and marked by deep inequities. More than 2.2 million residents are estimated to have CKD, yet fewer than 12% of at-risk patients receive appropriate testing. The ESRD population has grown by over 20% in the past decade, dialysis centers treat tens of thousands at high cost, and many patients reach kidney failure without timely specialty care. Testing rates have improved only slightly, underscoring the need for stronger, earlier screening.

Disparities remain most severe: Black residents face much higher rates of CKD and kidney failure, and lower-income New Yorkers experience both higher disease burden and crushing out-of-pocket costs. Addressing the crisis will require broader screening, better coordination of care, earlier treatment, and expanded transplant access—steps that can reduce both financial strain and the human toll of preventable kidney failure.

Without decisive action, these gaps will continue to widen. Prioritizing early detection and equitable care can slow disease progression, lower costs, and save lives—making kidney health not just a medical issue, but a public health imperative for the state’s future.