The prevalence of food insecurity trended higher among adults with or without CKD. During 2017–March 2020, the crude prevalence of food insecurity was 31.0% among adults with CKD and 27.7% among adults without CKD. The age-standardized prevalence of food insecurity among adults with CKD was 38.1% and 27.2% among adults without CKD.
To view the prevalence of food insecurity by risk categories, select from the drop-down menu below. Risk categories include: Overall, and CKD.
Data includes CKD stages 1–5. Estimates were standardized to the 2010 U.S. Census population for adults.
NHANES is a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey that is currently conducted every two years (since 1999) by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics among noninstitutionalized US civilian residents. The survey consists of a standardized in-home interview and a physical examination with blood and urine collected at a mobile examination center. Data were examined by combining two NHANES cycles to represent four-year periods from 2001 to 2016 and the 2017–March 2020 pre-pandemic cycle.
Note: Not all NHANES variables are collected for all years; therefore, some NHANES indicators may not utilize the full 20-year span.
Prevalence of food insecurity in U.S. adults.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged ≥ 18 years, pregnant women excluded.
2001–March 2020.
U.S. adults aged ≥ 18 years who are food insecure.
U.S. adults aged ≥ 18 years with serum creatinine, urine albumin and creatinine, and valid answers to food security questionnaire.
CKD is defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² or albuminuria (urine albumin to creatinine ratio [UACR] ≥ 30 mg/g). Estimates are based on single estimates of eGFR and UACR.
Based on the CKD-EPI (2021) equation for calibrated creatinine: eGFR=142 x [min(serum creatinine in mg/dL) /κ, 1)]**α x [max(serum creatinine/κ, 1)]**-1.20 x 0.9938**age x (1.012 if female). κ = 0.7 if female and 0.9 if male α = -0.241 if female and -0.302 if male ** = raise to the power
Urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) is calculated as urine albumin divided by urine creatinine. Albuminuria is defined as UACR ≥ 30 mg/g.
Serum creatinine values used for eGFR calculation are standardized against isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS).
Measured in random urine collection by fluorescent immunoassay.
Food insecurity is defined as self-reported household food security in the categories “marginal”, “low”, or “very low”, based on the U.S. Food Security Survey Module questions (Bickel G, et al, 2000).
Estimates were standardized to the 2010 U.S. Census population for adults. 18–39 years: 37.1%, 40–59 years: 38.1%, 60–69 years: 12.8%, and 70+ years: 12.0%.
Household food security, albuminuria, and kidney function are assessed from one-time cross-sectional measurements, possibly overestimating prevalence.
Appropriate NHANES survey weights were used for all analyses; if relative standard error was greater than 30%, the estimates were not shown. Serum creatinine measurements were assay corrected for NHANES years 2005 and 2006 and prior to be combined with later years.
