The Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP): program design and demographic characteristics of the population

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nephrology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health issue requiring preventative strategies.
• The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) functions as a public health initiative for CKD surveillance and early detection.
• This study analyzes the demographic profile of KEEP participants and compares it to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the demographic characteristics of participants in the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP).
• To compare the demographic and health profiles of KEEP participants with those in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Main Methods:

• KEEP enrolled individuals aged 18+ with risk factors for kidney disease (family history of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension).
• Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.
• The NHANES sample was restricted to participants with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of these conditions for comparison.

Main Results:

• KEEP participant numbers grew significantly over time, with the majority aged 46-60.
• The program enrolled more women (68.4%) than men (31.5%) and had strong minority representation (33.4% African American, 12.3% Hispanic).
• KEEP participants exhibited higher prevalence of self-reported hypertension (52.9% vs 38.5%), diabetes (26.6% vs 9.9%), obesity (43.6% vs 35.5%), and CKD (22.8% vs 17.6%) compared to NHANES.

Conclusions:

• The Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) effectively recruits individuals at high risk for kidney disease.
• High reported rates of hypertension and diabetes among KEEP participants validate its success in targeting at-risk populations.