The NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) is a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey that is currently conducted every 2 years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics to examine disease prevalence and trends over time in noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian residents.

CVD and CKD are both diseases of the vessels and the two diseases are inextricably linked. Much has been written about CVD and associated morbidity and mortality as a consequence of CKD (e.g., Go et al., 2004); however, there is increasing evidence that the association is bidirectional and that CVD may also be a risk factor for the development of CKD (Menon et al., 2005; Elsayed et al., 2007). The survey consists of a standardized in-home interview and a physical examination and blood and urine collection at a mobile examination center (MEC). Here we examined data from the 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2015-2016 NHANES. All forms of CVD (coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction/heart attack, cerebrovascular accident/stroke, angina, and congestive heart failure) were self-reported by questionnaire with the question, “Have you ever been told by a doctor or health care provider that you have/had [condition/event]?,” using both technical and lay terms. Note that coronary heart disease was asked separately from myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, and angina; those reporting the latter conditions did not necessarily report having coronary heart disease.