Market scope note: This article draws on materials from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is marked in the text with 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. to indicate which country it applies to.
When your parents seem tired or mention that their legs are swollen, it is easy to brush it off as just part of getting older. But those symptoms may actually be signs of declining kidney function. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which kidney damage or reduced function persists for three months or more. Because it produces almost no symptoms in the early stages, it is very difficult to detect. Many people do not feel anything even after losing more than 30% of their kidney function, which is why family caregivers need to be the ones paying attention first.
🇰🇷 Korea According to the "CKD and Dialysis Specialist Fact Sheet 2026" published by the Korean Society of Nephrology (대한신장학회) in 2026, the prevalence of CKD among Korean adults aged 19 and older was 6.3% as of 2024, but among those aged 70 and older it reaches approximately 25%. Narrowing the focus to adults 75 and older, roughly 1 in 4 people is affected. 🇰🇷 Korea According to big data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (건강보험심사평가원), the number of CKD patients in Korea, which stood at roughly 170,000 in 2015, surpassed 346,000 in 2024, more than doubling in just ten years. Of those, more than 100,000 now require dialysis treatment.
🇺🇸 U.S. According to data from the U.S. CDC and the NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), CKD appears in 34% of American adults aged 65 and older, a rate far higher than in any other age group. This means that more than 1 in 7 American adults overall is living with CKD. Yet only 1 in 10 people with the disease is reported to know they have it.
Kidney function naturally declines with age. The glomerular filtration rate is known to decrease by 6 to 8% every ten years. When chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure are layered on top of that, the pace of decline accelerates considerably. Diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys and can cause diabetic nephropathy, while high blood pressure thickens the kidney's blood vessels and impairs circulation. If your parents have any of these underlying conditions, their kidney health deserves especially close attention. Please encourage them to see a doctor if they notice excessive foaming in their urine, swelling in the legs or feet, persistent fatigue, or a sudden change in urine output.
There are also day-to-day management steps that caregivers can help with at home. Reducing salt intake and staying adequately hydrated are the basics. However, people who already have reduced kidney function should consult their doctor about how much fluid is appropriate for them. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can place a burden on the kidneys, so they should not be taken without medical guidance. Consistently managing blood pressure and blood sugar is equally essential. Above all, it is important not to skip the kidney function tests, urinalysis, and blood tests that are part of regular health check-ups.
It is also worth familiarizing yourself with available institutional support ahead of time. 🇰🇷 Korea In Korea, patients receiving peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, or kidney transplant-related treatment for chronic renal failure are eligible for the National Health Insurance catastrophic illness benefit (건강보험 산정특례제도), which significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs from the standard 20 to 60% down to 10%. 🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) qualify for Medicare regardless of age. As of 2025, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B is $185, and after the deductible is met, patients pay 20% of the cost of physician services. Dialysis supplies and home dialysis treatment fall under the same 20% cost-sharing structure.
Sources: Korean Society of Nephrology (대한신장학회), "CKD and Dialysis Specialist Fact Sheet 2026"; Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (건강보험심사평가원) Health and Medical Big Data (2024); National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) catastrophic illness benefit program guide; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) statistics; U.S. CDC CKD Report (2023); America's Health Rankings CKD Data (2024); AARP Medicare and Kidney Disease Guide; SmartMatch Medicare ESRD Guide (2025); St. Carollo Hospital (성가롤로병원) Health Information.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.