Senate Resolution No. 536
BY: Senator RIVERA
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 2023, 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 2023, 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 1.5 million New Yorkers and an estimated 30 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
546,000 Americans currently receiving treatment, including 557,838
dialysis patients and 245,846 people with functioning kidney
transplants; and
WHEREAS, Today, 7,250 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 2016, more than 100,000 Americans died from
end stage kidney disease; 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 4.2 times greater for Black Americans, 2.3 times greater for
American Indians, 2.3 times greater for Latino and Hispanic Americans,
and 1.5 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 2023, 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.
