ANNA — The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois joined with Shawnee Community College and Mid-America Transplant Services to host a community health fair on World Kidney Day at the Shawnee College Extension Center Thursday.
World Kidney Day is a day to celebrate kidney health and promote awareness of kidney disease across the globe. Here are a few kidney disease facts:
In the U.S., 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, but the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois believes hundreds of thousands of people are not aware of their condition.
Kidney disease is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. In Illinois, it is the ninth.
The current wait time in Illinois for a deceased donor kidney is between five and eight years.
Angelique Marseille, program manager for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, said the group was hosting two World Kidney Day events. Besides the one at the Shawnee College Extension Center in Anna, they had another event in Melrose Park.
While screening for kidney disease was not available at the health fair, they were checking blood pressure, BMI, hearing and vision.
“Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of kidney disease,” Marseille said.
She added that the KidneyMobile® will come to Anna to do screenings from noon to 4 p.m. on March 22 in room 134 at Shawnee Community College’s Anna Extension Center. Screenings will include blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, waist circumference, urinalysis and a blood draw (if necessary).<