More than 10 percent of adults in the United States have chronic kidney disease (CKD), which involves the gradual loss of kidney function. That’s more than 20 million people with varying stages of the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are numerous risk factors and causes of chronic kidney disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Approximately one in three adults with diabetes has CKD as well as one in five adults with high blood pressure.
Other risk factors for CKD include:
- Kidney infection
- Obesity
- Blockages of the renal artery
- Lupus
- A family history of CKD
- Adverse effects of certain medications
A widely used class of stomach acid drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been associated with an increased risk of CKD, according to two population-based analyses published in JAMA Internal Medicine in January 2016. PPI drugs – with popular brands like Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid – are used by millions of people to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers and other conditions.
People who took PPI drugs over an extended period of time and were diagnosed with CKD likely have questions about who is legally responsible and if there is possible compensation for medical bills, loss of work and other financial and personal losses. We can help. Contact our firm for assistance.
