Wisconsin faces a growing and complex kidney disease burden that spans hundreds of thousands of residents — from those managing early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) to those dependent on dialysis or a transplant to survive. More than 645,000 Wisconsinites live with CKD, and approximately 12,314 are managing kidney failure as of the most recent reporting year. Without treatment, kidney failure is fatal; yet the gap between those who need a transplant and those who receive one remains wide, leaving the majority of patients tethered to dialysis as a long-term lifeline.
The burden is not shared equally. Diabetes and high blood pressure — conditions that disproportionately affect lower-income and minority communities — account for approximately three-quarters of all kidney failure cases in the state. More than 80% of dialysis patients cannot work, and average out-of-pocket medical costs consume roughly 28 cents of every dollar they earn. African Americans face the highest CKD rates, and minorities account for the majority of patients who rely on charitable assistance to afford their care.
This article compiles statistics from multiple years of reporting to present a comprehensive, data-driven overview of kidney disease in Wisconsin. It covers disease prevalence and historical trends, causes, new diagnoses, transplant activity and outcomes, transplant center performance, county-level cancer incidence and mortality, statewide death rates, and the financial impact on patients and their families.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Wisconsin
CKD is the primary pathway to kidney failure and a major driver of cardiovascular disease, hospitalization, and premature death. Early detection is especially critical: identifying CKD early can save more than $50,000 per patient per year in future dialysis costs.
Current CKD Snapshot (March 2026)
- Wisconsinites impacted by CKD: 645,000+
- Annual healthcare cost of CKD in Wisconsin: $14 billion
- CKD prevalence among all adults: 14%
- Most affected population: African Americans
- Adults who self-report ever being told they have kidney disease: 4.0%
- Wisconsin national rank for self-reported CKD prevalence: 25th
CKD affects approximately one in seven Wisconsin adults, at an estimated cost of $14 billion per year. While 14% of adults have CKD, only 4.0% self-report ever receiving a kidney disease diagnosis — a gap that signals widespread underdiagnosis.
Screening and Quality Improvement
Wisconsin has set a statewide improvement goal focused on screening diabetic patients — the highest-risk group — for CKD.
- Statewide goal — additional patients with diabetes screened for CKD: 6,000
- Patients with diabetes appropriately screened for CKD (achieved): 161,000
- Patients with CKD with condition documented in medical record: 60%
- Four strategic priorities: increase kidney disease screening; focus on patients with diabetes; CKD education for primary care providers; target underserved communities
While 161,000 diabetic patients have been appropriately screened for CKD, only 60% of those with CKD have it properly documented in their medical records. The four strategic priorities — screening expansion, diabetes focus, primary care education, and targeting underserved communities — reflect the areas where the most improvement is still needed.
At-Risk Population
The risk of developing CKD in Wisconsin is shaped by several chronic conditions and demographic factors.
Wisconsin Risk Factors
- Adults diagnosed with diabetes: 8.7%
- Adults with high blood pressure: 31%
- Adults self-reporting obesity: 34.2%
- CKD prevalence among all adults: 14%
National Context
- In the U.S., 37 million people have kidney disease.
- One in three American adults is at risk for developing kidney disease.
- In Wisconsin, approximately 12,000 people are living with kidney disease.
- Diet is considered critical in slowing the progression of kidney disease.
Wisconsin’s rates of diabetes (8.7%), high blood pressure (31%), and obesity (34.2%) collectively create a large population at heightened risk for CKD.
Kidney Failure (End-Stage Renal Disease) in Wisconsin
Kidney failure — the point at which the kidneys can no longer sustain life without medical intervention — affects approximately 12,000 Wisconsinites at any given time. The following data cover the size of the affected population, how it has changed over time, what causes it, how many new cases arise each year, and which Wisconsin residents face the highest risk.
Total Population Living with Kidney Failure
Wisconsin’s kidney failure population is tracked annually. Each report year reflects the latest available data from that period.
| Report Year | Living with Kidney Failure | On Dialysis | Living with a Transplant |
| 2021 | 11,936 | 7,165 | 4,771 |
| 2023 | 12,158 | 7,308 | 4,850 |
| 2024 | 12,052 | 7,230 | 4,822 |
| 2025 | 12,111 | 7,244 | 4,867 |
| 2026 | 12,314 | 7,299 | 5,015 |
The number of Wisconsinites living with kidney failure grew from 11,936 in 2021 to 12,314 in 2026 — an increase of approximately 3.2% over five years. Throughout this period, roughly 59% of patients have remained on dialysis, while the transplant population has grown from 4,771 to 5,015.
Historical ESRD Incidence Rate in Wisconsin (1982–2003)
The rate of kidney failure in Wisconsin increased nearly threefold across two decades.
| Year | Approximate Age-Adjusted Rate (per 100,000) |
| 1982 | ~9 |
| 1984 | ~10 |
| 1986 | ~11 |
| 1988 | ~12 |
| 1990 | ~14 |
| 1992 | ~16 |
| 1994 | ~18 |
| 1996 | ~20 |
| 1998 | ~22 |
| 2000 | ~24 |
| 2002 | ~26 |
| 2004 | ~27 |
The age-adjusted ESRD incidence rate in Wisconsin rose from approximately 8.6 per 100,000 in 1982 to 27.9 per 100,000 in 2003 — a threefold increase in just over two decades.
Causes of Kidney Failure
Diabetes and high blood pressure are consistently responsible for the overwhelming majority of kidney failure cases in Wisconsin.
| Report Year | Diabetes | High Blood Pressure | Combined |
| 2023 | 47% | 30% | 77% |
| 2024 | 44% | 29% | 73% |
| 2025 | 43% | 30% | 73% |
Diabetes alone causes nearly half of all kidney failure cases in Wisconsin, while high blood pressure accounts for approximately 29–30%. Together these two conditions drive approximately three-quarters of all new kidney failure cases.
New Cases per Year
New kidney failure diagnoses are reported with a 2–3 year lag. The data show the number of newly diagnosed patients and how they entered treatment.
| Diagnosis Year | New Cases | Received Transplant | Began Dialysis | % Receiving Transplant |
| 2018 | 1,813 | 85 | 1,728 | 4.7% |
| 2020 | 1,920 | 72 | 1,848 | 3.8% |
| 2021 | 1,832 | 79 | 1,753 | 4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,858 | 77 | 1,781 | 4.1% |
| 2023 | 1,891 | 92 | 1,799 | 4.9% |
For every newly diagnosed kidney failure patient in Wisconsin, roughly 95% begin dialysis and fewer than 5% receive a kidney transplant in the year of diagnosis.
Kidney Cancer in Wisconsin
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer is distinct from kidney failure caused by diabetes or hypertension, but represents a significant and growing source of kidney-related morbidity and mortality in Wisconsin. Statewide rates consistently exceed national averages, and meaningful variation exists across counties.
Statewide Statistics (2012–2016)
Cancer of the kidney and renal pelvis has consistently affected more men than women in Wisconsin, and statewide rates exceed national averages.
Average Annual Cases and Age-Adjusted Rates
| Indicator | Total WI Cases | WI Rate | US Rate | Male WI Cases | Male WI Rate | Male US Rate | Female WI Cases | Female WI Rate | Female US Rate |
| Kidney & Renal Pelvis | 1,250 | 18.2 | 16.6 | 809 | 24.8 | 22.5 | 441 | 12.4 | 11.5 |
Average Annual Deaths and Age-Adjusted Rates
| Indicator | Total WI Deaths | WI Rate | US Rate | Male WI Deaths | Male WI Rate | Male US Rate | Female WI Deaths | Female WI Rate | Female US Rate |
| Kidney & Renal Pelvis | 291 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 190 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 100 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
Kidney Cancer Among Male Patients
- Kidney cancer accounted for 5% of all new male cancer cases in Wisconsin
- Kidney cancer accounted for 3% of all male cancer deaths in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s kidney cancer incidence rate (18.2 per 100,000) exceeded the national rate (16.6) in the 2012–2016 period, consistent with more recent county-level data showing Wisconsin above the U.S. average.
County-Level Incidence (2018–2022)
Wisconsin’s overall age-adjusted kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence rate (19.1 per 100,000) exceeds the national rate (17.5 per 100,000). The Wisconsin rate is stable, while the U.S. rate is falling. Counties are ranked from lowest to highest incidence (CI*Rank 68 = lowest rate, 1 = highest rate).
| County | Rural/Urban | Age-Adjusted Rate (per 100,000) | 95% CI | CI*Rank | Avg Annual Count | Recent 5-Yr Trend |
| Wisconsin (total) | — | 19.1 | (18.7, 19.6) | — | 1,443 | Stable (−0.4%) |
| US (SEER+NPCR) | — | 17.5 | (17.5, 17.6) | — | 70,592 | Falling (−1.0%) |
| Pierce County | Urban | 11.6 | (7.5, 17.3) | 68 | 5 | * |
| Bayfield County | Rural | 12.1 | (7.4, 20.3) | 67 | 4 | * |
| Rusk County | Rural | 13.2 | (7.0, 23.6) | 66 | 3 | Falling (−5.9%) |
| Dunn County | Rural | 13.2 | (9.1, 18.6) | 65 | 7 | Stable (−4.7%) |
| Eau Claire County | Urban | 13.3 | (10.4, 16.6) | 64 | 16 | Stable (+0.2%) |
| Calumet County | Urban | 13.3 | (9.6, 18.1) | 63 | 9 | Stable (+0.2%) |
| St. Croix County | Urban | 14.2 | (11.1, 17.8) | 62 | 16 | Stable (+0.8%) |
| Outagamie County | Urban | 15.0 | (12.8, 17.5) | 61 | 35 | Stable (−0.6%) |
| Ashland County | Rural | 15.4 | (8.7, 25.8) | 60 | 3 | * |
| Trempealeau County | Rural | 15.6 | (10.7, 22.2) | 59 | 7 | Stable (+1.3%) |
| Marquette County | Rural | 15.8 | (9.2, 26.2) | 58 | 4 | * |
| Chippewa County | Urban | 15.8 | (12.3, 20.1) | 57 | 15 | Stable (−2.4%) |
| Sawyer County | Rural | 16.0 | (9.8, 25.5) | 56 | 5 | * |
| Door County | Rural | 16.3 | (11.6, 22.8) | 55 | 10 | Stable (−0.3%) |
| Winnebago County | Urban | 16.6 | (14.1, 19.3) | 54 | 35 | Stable (−1.4%) |
| Washburn County | Rural | 16.6 | (10.0, 26.7) | 53 | 5 | Stable (+0.3%) |
| Portage County | Rural | 16.7 | (12.9, 21.3) | 52 | 14 | Stable (0.0%) |
| Waupaca County | Rural | 16.8 | (12.7, 21.9) | 51 | 13 | Stable (−1.2%) |
| Buffalo County | Rural | 17.0 | (9.5, 28.7) | 50 | 3 | Stable (+0.8%) |
| Richland County | Rural | 17.0 | (10.3, 27.0) | 49 | 5 | Stable (−0.5%) |
| Dane County | Urban | 17.1 | (15.6, 18.7) | 48 | 104 | Stable (−4.2%) |
| Iowa County | Urban | 17.1 | (11.5, 25.1) | 47 | 6 | Stable (+2.4%) |
| Marathon County | Urban | 17.3 | (14.6, 20.4) | 46 | 31 | Falling (−12.6%) |
| Kenosha County | Urban | 17.4 | (14.9, 20.3) | 45 | 35 | Stable (+1.0%) |
| Ozaukee County | Urban | 17.5 | (14.3, 21.3) | 44 | 23 | Rising (+2.2%) |
| Douglas County | Urban | 17.5 | (12.9, 23.4) | 43 | 11 | Stable (+2.7%) |
| Polk County | Rural | 17.6 | (13.3, 23.1) | 42 | 12 | Stable (+2.7%) |
| La Crosse County | Urban | 17.7 | (14.6, 21.2) | 41 | 25 | Stable (+1.1%) |
| Kewaunee County | Urban | 17.8 | (11.3, 27.0) | 40 | 5 | * |
| Waukesha County | Urban | 17.8 | (16.2, 19.5) | 39 | 102 | Stable (+0.9%) |
| Fond du Lac County | Urban | 18.1 | (14.9, 21.9) | 38 | 24 | Rising (+6.8%) |
| Price County | Rural | 18.1 | (10.4, 30.3) | 37 | 4 | Stable (+1.3%) |
| Wood County | Rural | 18.6 | (15.0, 22.9) | 36 | 20 | Stable (−1.9%) |
| Columbia County | Urban | 18.7 | (14.5, 23.9) | 35 | 15 | Stable (−3.4%) |
| Walworth County | Rural | 18.7 | (15.5, 22.4) | 34 | 27 | Stable (−0.2%) |
| Lafayette County | Rural | 19.0 | (11.4, 30.0) | 33 | 4 | * |
| Langlade County | Rural | 19.3 | (12.1, 29.5) | 32 | 6 | Stable (+1.2%) |
| Shawano County | Rural | 19.3 | (14.3, 25.6) | 31 | 11 | Stable (+1.4%) |
| Sheboygan County | Urban | 20.0 | (16.9, 23.6) | 30 | 31 | Rising (+2.7%) |
| Clark County | Rural | 20.1 | (14.3, 27.6) | 29 | 9 | Stable (+1.3%) |
| Grant County | Rural | 20.2 | (15.5, 26.0) | 28 | 14 | Stable (+1.9%) |
| Barron County | Rural | 20.3 | (15.4, 26.3) | 27 | 14 | Stable (+2.8%) |
| Burnett County | Rural | 20.6 | (14.3, 30.3) | 26 | 7 | * |
| Taylor County | Rural | 20.7 | (13.7, 30.5) | 25 | 6 | * |
| Dodge County | Rural | 20.8 | (17.1, 25.0) | 24 | 25 | Stable (+2.3%) |
| Brown County | Urban | 20.9 | (18.7, 23.4) | 23 | 66 | Stable (−2.7%) |
| Milwaukee County | Urban | 21.0 | (19.7, 22.3) | 22 | 213 | Rising (+1.8%) |
| Jackson County | Rural | 21.3 | (14.3, 30.8) | 21 | 6 | * |
| Monroe County | Rural | 21.4 | (16.2, 27.9) | 20 | 12 | Stable (+1.5%) |
| Waushara County | Rural | 21.6 | (15.0, 30.6) | 19 | 9 | Stable (+2.2%) |
| Oconto County | Urban | 22.0 | (16.6, 28.8) | 18 | 13 | Stable (+1.1%) |
| Vernon County | Urban | 22.0 | (16.0, 29.8) | 17 | 10 | Rising (+3.5%) |
| Racine County | Urban | 22.1 | (19.5, 25.0) | 16 | 55 | Rising (+1.7%) |
| Washington County | Urban | 22.2 | (19.2, 25.6) | 15 | 43 | Stable (+1.8%) |
| Manitowoc County | Rural | 22.3 | (18.4, 26.8) | 14 | 26 | Rising (+3.3%) |
| Green Lake County | Rural | 22.4 | (14.2, 33.7) | 13 | 6 | * |
| Oneida County | Rural | 22.7 | (16.9, 30.0) | 12 | 13 | Stable (+0.7%) |
| Sauk County | Rural | 22.8 | (18.4, 28.0) | 11 | 20 | Rising (+3.9%) |
| Jefferson County | Rural | 23.0 | (19.1, 27.7) | 10 | 25 | Stable (+2.8%) |
| Rock County | Urban | 24.0 | (21.0, 27.3) | 9 | 50 | Rising (+2.5%) |
| Juneau County | Rural | 24.2 | (17.5, 33.0) | 8 | 9 | Stable (+2.4%) |
| Adams County | Rural | 25.3 | (17.2, 36.6) | 7 | 9 | Stable (+3.8%) |
| Lincoln County | Rural | 25.9 | (19.0, 34.7) | 6 | 11 | Stable (+3.0%) |
| Green County | Urban | 25.9 | (20.0, 33.2) | 5 | 14 | Stable (+3.0%) |
| Vilas County | Rural | 26.3 | (18.4, 36.8) | 4 | 10 | Stable (+3.3%) |
| Marinette County | Rural | 27.0 | (21.0, 34.3) | 3 | 17 | Stable (+0.4%) |
| Crawford County | Rural | 28.9 | (19.4, 41.9) | 2 | 7 | Rising (+6.2%) |
| Forest County | Rural | 51.4 | (33.7, 75.8) | 1 | 6 | Rising (+4.7%) |
* = insufficient data for trend analysis
Forest County stands in a category of its own — its incidence rate of 51.4 per 100,000 is more than double the state average (19.1) and nearly three times the national rate (17.5), with a rising trend (+4.7% annually). Crawford (28.9), Marinette (27.0), and Vilas (26.3) counties also show substantially elevated rates.
Kidney Transplants in Wisconsin
Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment for kidney failure, associated with dramatically better survival rates and lower long-term costs than dialysis. This section covers transplant volume trends, the waiting list, the four Wisconsin transplant centers, and patient outcomes at each.
Transplant Activity and Volume by Year
Wisconsin transplant volume has grown substantially since the early 2020s, recovering from a dip in 2022.
| Year Performed | Total Transplants | Living Donor | Deceased Donor | Comparison to ~10 Years Prior |
| 2020 | 464 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 391 | 96 | 295 | No change from 2012 |
| 2023 | 479 | 126 | 353 | +15% from 2013 |
| 2024 | 553 | 169 | 384 | +34% from 2014 |
| 2025 | 576 | 193 | 383 | +43% from 2015 |
After falling to 391 transplants in 2022, Wisconsin’s transplant volume recovered sharply, reaching a new high of 576 in 2025 — a 43% increase from 2015 and a 47% increase from the 2022 low.
Transplant Waiting List
The number of Wisconsinites waiting for a kidney transplant has fluctuated across the reporting period.
- 2021: 1,302 Wisconsinites on the kidney transplant waiting list
- 2023 (as of Feb 17, 2023): 1,251
- 2024: 1,244
- 2025: 1,228
- 2026: 1,340
The transplant waiting list remained in a narrow range of 1,228–1,340 throughout the reporting period, despite the significant increase in transplant volume. The 2026 figure of 1,340 is the highest in recent years, suggesting that demand is growing even as supply increases.
Transplant Centers
Wisconsin has four kidney transplant centers. Three serve adult patients; one focuses on pediatric care.
Donor Activity
| Rank | Center | NKR Transplants (Last 12 Mo) | Deceased Donor Prioritization | Living Donor Prioritization | NKR Member | Equal Access Commitment |
| 1 | UW Health University Hospital | 73 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Froedtert Hospital | 55 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center | 10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 4 | Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin | 0 | No | No | No | No |
| Total | 138 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 4 |
Donor Program Features by Center
| Center | Donor Shield | Remote Donation | Voucher Program | Donor Referral Network | Kidney for Life | Donor Care Network | Nutcracker Care Network |
| UW Health University Hospital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Froedtert Hospital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
UW Health University Hospital and Froedtert Hospital are Wisconsin’s dominant transplant centers, accounting for 128 of 138 total NKR transplants (93%) in the last 12 months.
Recipient Activity
Prior Year = 04/01/2025 – 03/31/2026
| Rank | Center | NKR Transplants (Last 12 Mo) | Low Eplet Transplants (Last 12 Mo) | NKR Living Donor Transplants (Prior Year) | Total Living Donor Transplants (Prior Year) | NKR % of Living Donor Transplants |
| 1 | UW Health University Hospital | 73 | 31 | 68 | 98 | 70% |
| 2 | Froedtert Hospital | 55 | 21 | 58 | 68 | 86% |
| 3 | Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s | 10 | 4 | 11 | 28 | 40% |
| 4 | Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Total | 138 | 56 | 137 | 195 | 71% |
Recipient Program Features by Center
| Center | Kidney for Life | Patient Microsites | Microsite Center of Excellence | Non-Steroidal Protocol | Voucher Program | NKR Member | Equal Access Commitment |
| UW Health University Hospital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Froedtert Hospital | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin | No | No | No | Unknown | No | No | No |
Wisconsin transplant centers collectively performed 195 living donor transplants in the prior year, with 71% going through the National Kidney Registry (NKR).
Transplant Outcomes
Adult Centers
Living Donor (LD) Transplant Outcomes
| Center | LD Transplants (Prior Year) | LD 1-Yr Graft Survival | LD 3-Yr Graft Survival | LD 1-Yr Patient Survival | LD 3-Yr Patient Survival |
| UW Health University Hospital | 98 | 98% | 94% | 99% | 95% |
| Froedtert Hospital | 68 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s | 28 | 100% | 95% | 100% | 94% |
Deceased Donor (DD) Transplant Outcomes
| Center | DD 1-Yr Graft Survival | DD 3-Yr Graft Survival | DD 1-Yr Patient Survival | DD 3-Yr Patient Survival |
| UW Health University Hospital | 94% | 86% | 96% | 90% |
| Froedtert Hospital | 97% | 88% | 99% | 92% |
| Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s | 100% | 92% | 100% | 94% |
LD = Living Donor | DD = Deceased Donor
All three Wisconsin adult transplant centers report strong outcomes. Froedtert Hospital achieves 100% graft and patient survival at both one and three years for living donor transplants — the best in the state.
Pediatric Centers
| Center | LD Transplants (Prior Year) | LD 1-Yr Graft | LD 3-Yr Graft | LD 1-Yr Patient | LD 3-Yr Patient | DD 1-Yr Graft | DD 3-Yr Graft | DD 1-Yr Patient | DD 3-Yr Patient |
| UW Health University Hospital | 98 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 89% | 100% | 89% |
| Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin | 1 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 83% | 100% | 100% |
LD = Living Donor | DD = Deceased Donor
Both pediatric transplant centers report 100% one-year graft and patient survival for all transplant types.
Kidney Disease and Kidney Cancer Mortality
Kidney Disease Mortality: Wisconsin vs. the United States (2019–2023)
Wisconsin’s kidney disease (nephritis and nephrosis) mortality rate is lower than the national average. The following table places kidney disease mortality in context alongside other leading causes of death.
| Cause of Death | Wisconsin Rate (per 100,000) | U.S. Rate (per 100,000) |
| Heart Disease | 167.0 | 168.9 |
| Cancer | 148.5 | 145.4 |
| Accidents & Adverse Effects | 71.3 | 59.7 |
| Cerebrovascular Diseases | 35.5 | 39.8 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 34.3 | 35.9 |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 32.3 | 30.8 |
| Diabetes Mellitus | 20.6 | 23.9 |
| Suicide & Self-Inflicted Injury | 14.7 | 13.9 |
| Kidney Disease (Nephritis & Nephrosis) | 11.5 | 13.4 |
| Septicemia | 8.2 | 10.0 |
| Pneumonia | 7.6 | 10.7 |
| Homicide & Legal Intervention | 5.8 | 7.6 |
| Influenza | 1.2 | 1.1 |
Additional Kidney Disease Mortality Figures
- Kidney disease death rate (separate measure): 9.6 per 100,000
- Annual deaths attributable to kidney disease: 780
- Kidney and renal pelvis cancer death rate: 3.8 per 100,000; annual cancer deaths: ~300
Wisconsin’s kidney disease mortality rate of 11.5 per 100,000 is measurably better than the national rate of 13.4 — a relative advantage of approximately 14%.
Kidney Cancer County-Level Death Rates (2019–2023)
Wisconsin’s overall age-adjusted kidney cancer death rate (3.8 per 100,000) is slightly higher than the national rate (3.4), with both trending downward. Counties are listed by priority index, where a lower number indicates higher priority for intervention.
| County | Priority Index | Trend | Rate vs. US | Avg Annual Deaths | Age-Adjusted Death Rate (per 100,000) | 95% CI |
| United States | — | Falling | — | 14,378 | 3.4 | (3.4, 3.5) |
| Wisconsin | — | Falling | — | 300 | 3.8 | (3.6, 4.0) |
| Brown County | 4 | Stable | Higher | 16 | 5.1 | (4.0, 6.4) |
| La Crosse County | 4 | Stable | Higher | 8 | 5.3 | (3.8, 7.4) |
| Wood County | 4 | Stable | Higher | 7 | 5.4 | (3.7, 7.7) |
| Chippewa County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 5 | 5.0 | (3.2, 7.7) |
| Columbia County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 3 | 4.0 | (2.3, 6.6) |
| Eau Claire County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 5 | 4.1 | (2.6, 6.2) |
| Fond du Lac County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 5 | 3.5 | (2.2, 5.2) |
| Jefferson County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 5 | 4.6 | (3.0, 6.9) |
| Kenosha County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 7 | 3.5 | (2.4, 5.0) |
| Milwaukee County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 38 | 3.7 | (3.2, 4.3) |
| Outagamie County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 8 | 3.4 | (2.5, 4.7) |
| Racine County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 9 | 3.6 | (2.6, 4.9) |
| Rock County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 10 | 4.3 | (3.2, 5.7) |
| Sheboygan County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 7 | 4.2 | (2.9, 6.0) |
| Walworth County | 6 | Stable | Similar | 5 | 3.2 | (2.0, 4.8) |
| Dane County | 8 | Falling | Similar | 18 | 2.9 | (2.3, 3.6) |
| Marathon County | 8 | Falling | Similar | 6 | 2.7 | (1.8, 4.0) |
| Waukesha County | 8 | Falling | Similar | 19 | 3.1 | (2.5, 3.8) |
| Winnebago County | 8 | Falling | Similar | 7 | 3.2 | (2.2, 4.4) |
| Barron County | ** | ** | Similar | 3 | 4.2 | (2.4, 7.1) |
| Dodge County | ** | ** | Higher | 7 | 5.5 | (3.8, 7.8) |
| Manitowoc County | ** | ** | Similar | 6 | 4.2 | (2.8, 6.3) |
| Ozaukee County | ** | ** | Similar | 4 | 2.5 | (1.5, 4.1) |
| Polk County | ** | ** | Similar | 4 | 5.1 | (3.0, 8.4) |
| Portage County | ** | ** | Similar | 4 | 5.0 | (3.0, 7.7) |
| Sauk County | ** | ** | Similar | 5 | 4.6 | (2.9, 7.1) |
| Shawano County | ** | ** | Similar | 4 | 5.4 | (3.2, 8.9) |
| Washington County | ** | ** | Similar | 8 | 3.9 | (2.8, 5.5) |
** = insufficient data for trend analysis. Priority Index: 1 = highest priority for intervention, 9 = lowest.
Three counties — Brown (5.1), La Crosse (5.3), and Wood (5.4) — have death rates statistically higher than the national rate and are ranked as high intervention priorities. Dodge County (5.5) and Shawano County (5.4) show similarly elevated rates but have insufficient trend data.
Financial Burden and Patient Assistance
Kidney failure imposes enormous costs on patients, their families, and the healthcare system. The data below cover Medicare expenditures, charitable assistance from the American Kidney Fund (AKF), the financial profile of patients who receive that assistance, and the insurance types they carry.
Medicare Costs
The economics of kidney disease treatment make a compelling case for transplantation over dialysis.
Medicare Patient Counts
- Wisconsin Medicare patients diagnosed with CKD: 3,285
- Wisconsin patients on dialysis (Medicare): 5,353
- Wisconsin patients with a kidney transplant (Medicare): 10,574
- Wisconsin patients on transplant waitlist: 1,796
- Transplants performed in Wisconsin (2016): 454
- Wisconsin patients who died while on waitlist (2016): 110
Average Annual Cost to Medicare
- Dialysis patient: $85,979/year
- Transplant patient (after first year): $32,586/year
- Kidney disease test: $80–$143
The cost difference between dialysis and transplantation is stark. A dialysis patient costs Medicare $85,979 per year — more than 2.6 times the $32,586 per year cost of maintaining a kidney transplant patient after the first year.
Charitable Assistance (AKF Grants to Wisconsin Patients)
The AKF provides charitable grants to low-income dialysis and transplant patients to cover insurance premiums and other health care costs not covered by insurance.
| Grant Year | Wisconsin Recipients | Total Charitable Assistance |
| 2020 | 634 | ~$1,900,000 |
| 2022 | 483 | $1,695,636 |
| 2023 | 526 | $1,690,220 |
| 2024 | 630 | $1,912,209 |
| 2025 | 731 | Not specified |
AKF grant recipients in Wisconsin grew from 483 in 2022 to 731 in 2025 — a 51% increase in three years — and total charitable assistance approached $2 million annually in 2020 and 2024.
Patient Financial Profile
- Average annual income of AKF-assisted patients: < $25,000
- Average annual out-of-pocket costs (dialysis patients): > $10,000
- Out-of-pocket costs as proportion of income: ~28%
- Dialysis patients unable to work: > 80%
ESRD is classified as a disability. Dialysis treatment is so physically demanding and time-consuming that more than 80% of patients on dialysis cannot maintain employment. With average incomes under $25,000 and annual out-of-pocket costs exceeding $10,000, dialysis patients must spend roughly 28 cents of every dollar of income on medical costs alone — before any other living expenses are considered.
Racial and Ethnic Profile of AKF-Assisted Patients
Minority patients are heavily overrepresented among kidney failure patients receiving charitable assistance, together accounting for more than 60% of AKF-assisted patients.
- Black/African American: 34.7%
- Hispanic/Latino: 20.9%
- Native American/Asian/Pacific Islander: 5.2%
Black patients (34.7%) and Hispanic/Latino patients (20.9%) alone make up more than half of AKF-assisted patients. This reflects well-documented health disparities in CKD and kidney failure risk, access to early treatment, and socioeconomic factors that complicate disease management.
Insurance Coverage of AKF-Assisted Patients by Year
| Insurance Type | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Medicare Part B | 40.9% | 44.6% | 25.0% |
| Medigap | 27.2% | 23.4% | 27.3% |
| Commercial/Employer Group Plans (incl. COBRA) | 17.7% | 17.2% | 20.1% |
| Medicare Advantage | 1.3% | 1.4% | 0.6% |
Medicare Part B was the dominant insurance type in 2022 and 2023 but dropped sharply in 2024 (from 44.6% to 25.0%), while commercial employer plans grew to 20.1%.
Conclusion
Wisconsin has made measurable progress on several fronts. Transplant volume reached a record 576 in 2025 — a 43% increase from 2015 — and living donor transplants more than doubled from their 2022 low. Three-year graft survival at Wisconsin’s adult centers reaches 100% for living donor transplants at two of the three facilities, and the number of Wisconsinites living with a functioning transplant grew from 4,771 to 5,015 between 2021 and 2026. The statewide kidney failure mortality rate of 11.5 per 100,000 is meaningfully better than the national rate of 13.4, and several counties — including Dane, Marathon, Waukesha, and Winnebago — show falling kidney cancer death rate trends.
Yet significant challenges remain. Approximately 95% of newly diagnosed kidney failure patients still begin dialysis rather than receiving a transplant, and the waiting list stood at 1,340 in 2026. Dialysis costs Medicare nearly $86,000 per patient annually — 2.6 times the cost of a transplant — while patients themselves spend roughly 28% of their incomes on out-of-pocket medical costs. Charitable assistance from the American Kidney Fund reached 731 Wisconsin patients in 2025, a 51% increase in just three years, reflecting deepening financial hardship. Wisconsin’s kidney cancer incidence rate remains above the national average, and Forest County’s rate of 51.4 per 100,000 — more than double the state average — signals concentrated, unaddressed risk in specific communities.
The data point to three overarching priorities. First, preventing and controlling diabetes and high blood pressure — together driving 73–77% of all kidney failure — is the most powerful upstream intervention available. Second, expanding CKD screening, especially among diabetic patients, could save more than $50,000 per patient per year by catching the disease before it reaches the dialysis stage; currently, 40% of CKD cases remain undocumented in medical records. Third, growing living donor programs, NKR participation, and transplant capacity would shift more patients from dialysis to transplantation — improving outcomes and reducing the enormous costs borne by patients, families, and the healthcare system alike. Addressing the disproportionate burden on African Americans and other minority communities must be at the center of all three efforts.
Sources:
- Kidney Transplant Centers in Wisconsin
- Kidney failure
- Kidney failure in Wisconsin: 2024
- Kidney failure in Wisconsin: 2023
- Kidney failure (ESRD) – in Wisconsin
- Kidney failure WISCONSIN: 2026
- KIDNEY DISEASE IN WISCONSIN
- Explore Chronic Kidney Disease in Wisconsin | AHR
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Mortality: Quick Profile | HDPulse Data Portal
- Kidney Disease Mortality | Stats of the States | CDC
- WCHQ Health Insights
- 12,000 people living with kidney failure in Wisconsin; diet is critical in slowing progression
- Incidence Rate Report for Wisconsin by County Kidney & Renal Pelvis (All Stages), 2018-2022
- Death Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer, 2019-2023 Wisconsin Counties versus United States
- Facts & Figures – Cancer in Wisconsin