Knowledge and Uncertainties Regarding Women and Kidney Diseases: Unanswered Questions and Unquestioned Answers Observation of International Women’s Day with World Kidney Day

Chronic Kidney Disease affects approximately 10% of the world’s adult population: it is within the top 20 causes of deathworldwide, and it’s impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women’s Dayin 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women’s health and specifically their kidneyhealth, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidneydisease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% ofthe world’s population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around theworld in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, offeringan opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also a state where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and whichmay impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are morelikely to impact women with profound consequences for child bearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complicationson dialysis than men, and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this editorial, we focus on whatwe do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease, and what we might learn in the future to improveoutcomes worldwide