Foreword - Kidney disease in disadvantaged populations: An unconquered challenge

tal factors accounting for unique regional nephropathies, availability and affordability of renal replacement therapy for the unfortunate patients who reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and issues with organ allocation for the lucky few who have access to transplantation. This being the 9 th installment of the satellite meetings, ISN CKHDP has come a long way in highlighting the unique problems faced at least in some of the developing countries as well as disadvantaged communities within the developed countries. This satellite has seen growing interest among the physicians, researchers, and policy experts as evidenced by the increasing number of delegate attendance and abstract submission. Has there been an improvement in the care of " disadvantaged populations " , what has been done and where are we today? Unfortunately , the early detection programs in most of these economically challenged countries are either not available or very limited and fragmented, not adequately validated and with the data analyzed/derived, there seems to be no meaningful implementation process. In many countries, the burgeoning incidence and prevalence of CKD has overwhelmed the support for proper follow-up and management to retard its progression. Support for ESRD care is mostly economically driven, truncated also by limited trained or qualified personnel. Patients from the resource-limited countries continue to be disadvantaged with very limited access to general healthcare, restricted access to recommended prevention and early intervention at various stages of CKD, and limited ESRD support. Further, many patients continue to be exposed to toxins and pollutants, which account for clustered cases of regional nephropathies. In addition, limited access to potable water and proper sewerage contributes to much of the infection-related renal diseases. Where do we go from here and what can be done to improve the situation? Primary impetus would be to educate the public at This online supplement summarizes the presentations that were made at the 2013 World Congress of Nephrology Satellite Symposium " Kidney Disease: A Global Challenge of Epidemic Proportions, " the 9 th meeting organized by the Committee for Kidney Health in Disadvantaged Populations , an advisory committee of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN CKHDP). The primary mission of the Committee is to explore ways to reduce the burden of kidney disease in disadvantaged communities in both developing and developed countries, including racial and ethnic minority groups that suffer disproportionately from kidney disease and its complications. This symposium was held from June 4 to …