Running head: CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 1 Chronic Kidney Disease: Problems, Perceptions, and Strategies for Intervention David Brown Walden University HLTH 4900, Section 2, Capstone November 16, 2013 Instructor: Dr. Jody Early CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: PROBLEMS, PERCEPTIONS, AND STRATEGIES FOR INTERVENTION 2 Abstract Chronic kidney disease is considered one of the most significant health issues affecting morbidity and mortality and contributes heavily to the state of global health. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are chronic illnesses that have a dramatic impact on the cost of health care delivery in the United States. Early detection and intervention are critical to the long-term prognosis of this patient population; however, a health disparity exists because not everyone who is at risk for CKD has access to resources for screening and treatment. One of the goals of community-level and national programs is to create parity of care by focusing attention on marginalized communities that are at a statistically higher risk for CKD. The global impact of CKD and ESRD is significant because long-term survival depends on expensive technology and many regions of the world lack the resources needed to treat this disease. Health behavior and culture are known contributors to the long-term survivability of the disease. Since early detection is the key, creating screening programs that target populations at greatest risk will have the highest impact, and be the most cost-effective solution to combating this chronic illness. CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: PROBLEMS, PERCEPTIONS, AND STRATEGIES FOR INTERVENTION 3 Chronic Kidney Disease: Problems, Perceptions, and Strategies for Intervention Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered one of the primary global health issues and contributes significantly to the social burden of care. CKD, along with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer, is a chronic illness that is classified as a non- communicable disease (Healthy People 2020, 2013). Non-communicable diseases have a significant societal impact to domestic growth, productivity, and health care costs and are the most common cause of morbidity and premature death in the United States (Couser, Remuzzi, Mendis, & Tonelli, 2011). Chronic illnesses are also characterized by physical and emotional stressors that can become overwhelming when simultaneously coping with multiple comorbidities (Moulton, 2008). Although the World Health Assembly has determined that non- communicable diseases contribute heavily to the state of global health, they concede that public health policy can dramatically affect patient morbidity and mortality (Couser et al., 2011). CKD is a public health threat that is on the rise and will likely not slow without deliberate intervention. This literature review will describe the impact that chronic kid.