Senate Resolution No. 1925

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 2024, as Kidney Disease Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2024, as Kidney Disease
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Kidney Month; and

WHEREAS, Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem
affecting millions of New Yorkers and an estimated 37 million people
nationwide; and

WHEREAS, CKD is a progressive condition in which kidneys do not work
as well as they should to filter waste, toxins, and fluids from your
body; and

WHEREAS, CKD can progress quickly or take years to worsen, and is
described as having five stages, and progression through each stage can
eventually lead to kidney failure, also known as End Stage Renal Disease
(ESRD), which can be treated with a kidney replacement or dialysis; and

WHEREAS, The incidence of ESRD is rising fast, with more than
556,000 Americans currently receiving treatment and 251,988 people with
functioning kidney transplants; and

WHEREAS, Today, 7,926 New Yorkers are on the transplant waiting
list; New York State encourages all to join the State's tissue and organ
donation registry; and

WHEREAS, Due to the fact that there are little to no signs of the
condition, most individuals are not aware they have kidney disease until
it reaches the later stages, thus making laboratory tests critical in
the diagnosis; some symptoms of CKD can include changes in urination,
swelling of the feet, ankles, hands, and/or face, fatigue, weakness,
shortness of breath, ammonia breath or ammonia or metallic taste in
mouth, back or flank pain, itching, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
and if diabetic, more hypoglycemic episodes; and

WHEREAS, Tragically, in 2021, more than 127,000 Americans died from
end stage kidney disease; and

WHEREAS, There are genetic factors that can increase an individual's
risk for kidney disease, and one such genetic factor is having variants
(mutations) in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene; and

WHEREAS, People are more likely to have APOL1 gene variants if they
are from Western or Central Africa or have an ancestor who came from
these regions, and these variants can increase susceptibility for
APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD), a rapidly progressive form of
kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure; and

WHEREAS, Diabetes and hypertension are the two leading causes of
chronic kidney disease which strikes minorities disproportionately; and

WHEREAS, Kidney failure has a disproportionate impact on people of
color; compared to White Americans, the likelihood of developing kidney
failure is 4.3 times greater for Black Americans, 2.3 times greater for
American Indians, 2.2 times greater for Latino and Hispanic Americans,
and 1.6 times greater for Asian Americans; and

WHEREAS, Also at particular risk are the elderly, as the chance of
developing kidney disease increases significantly with age; in 2020,
older adults with CKD died at a rate three times that of people without
CKD; and

WHEREAS, People afflicted with chronic kidney disease typically
develop other chronic and life-threatening conditions such as
cardiovascular disease; and

WHEREAS, Early intervention is the best method for managing the
complications of chronic kidney disease; and

WHEREAS, The American Kidney Fund works on behalf of the 37 million
Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, to
support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease
from prevention through post-transplant living; and

WHEREAS, The Northeast Kidney Foundation provides early
intervention, community education and support programs for those
suffering from chronic kidney disease; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2024, as Kidney
Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.