National Kidney Month Spotlights Kidney Health and its Importance for Veterans

WASHINGTON (March 14, 2025) — National Kidney Month is recognized every March and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spotlights the national observance month to emphasize the importance of kidney health.

Among all Veterans using VA care, more than 1.4 million Veterans suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CDK) and more than 20,000 currently receive dialysis, VA reports. Kidney disease is a known factor for early death and often is accompanied by additional life-threatening ailments, according to VA.

More than half of Veterans with CDK also have diabetes and approximately 7% have heart failure, VA says.

VA has been a leader on kidney health since 2019 when it established the first national health system policy prioritizing early detection and management of kidney disease.

The two top causes of kidney disease are hypertension and diabetes, according to VA. Veterans can help prevent and manage kidney disease through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, VA says.

VA emphasizes that all Veterans with early CDK should follow a healthy diet to ease kidney stress. Unhealthy diets harm kidney function and increase the need for dialysis, VA stresses.

Learn more about maintaining good kidney health in this recent VA News article highlighting VA’s Kidney Medicine Program and its awareness campaign for National Kidney Month.