Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and growing problem in the United States today, described by some experts as epidemic. According to the CDC, an estimated 16.8 percent of adults over age 20 have CKD, and among people over age 60, the rate is even higher, at 26 percent and rapidly rising. Since CKD often has no symptoms in the early stages, many people with the disease remain unaware of it until significant damage is done to their kidneys – damage that probably could have been prevented or delayed with early treatment. For this reason, knowing your risk factors for this often stealthy, but potentially deadly disease is very important, as is getting screened for CKD regularly if you are at risk.