Definition of End-stage kidney disease:

End-stage kidney disease is a complete or near complete failure of the kidneys to function to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and regulate electrolytes. Also called End-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

End-stage kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to function at a level that is necessary for day to day life. It usually occurs as chronic renal failure worsens to the point where kidney function is less than 10% of normal.

At this point, the kidney function is so low that without dialysis or kidney transplantation, complications are multiple and severe, and death will occur from accumulation of fluids and waste products in the body.

In the U.S., more than 400,000 people are on long-term dialysis and more than 20,000 have a functioning transplanted kidney. The most common cause of ESRD in the U.S. is diabetes. ESRD almost always follows chronic kidney failure, which may exist for 10-20 years or more before progressing to become ESRD.