DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 21, 2012-- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services that is committed to improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today reminded the public of risk factors for kidney disease and the importance of getting screened to identify the disease early.

"It might seem odd that a dialysis provider is raising awareness to help prevent kidney disease, butDaVita is anything but a typical corporation," said Chris Riopelle, senior vice president of DaVita®. "CKD can often be managed if it's caught early, and some with kidney disease can avoid dialysis altogether."

Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure, followed by hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure. Cardiovascular disease, obesity, high cholesterol, and those over age 60 or with family history of the disease are also at risk.

Other high-risk groups for kidney disease include African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans.

Kidney disease is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that 31 million U.S. adults have CKD; however most are unaware they have the disease. Kidney disease is often referred to as a "silent epidemic," as there are typically no symptoms until the kidneys fail and dialysis is necessary to sustain life.

Kidney disease can be diagnosed by a simple blood test. If kidney disease is discovered in its earlier stages, underlying conditions causing kidney failure can be treated to potentially slow or stop the progression of the disease.

To gauge your risk for kidney disease, take the Kidney Disease Risk Quiz here.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVitastrives to improve patients' quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of Dec. 31, 2011, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,809 dialysis facilities in the United States, serving approximately 142,000 patients. The company also operated 11 outpatient dialysis centers located in three countries outside the United States. DaVita supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company's leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune,Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit http://www.davita.com.

Source: DaVita

DaVita
Ginger Pelz, 303-405-2271
Ginger.Pelz@davita.com