OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have five to six other co-morbid conditions thus requiring extensive therapeutic treatment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the most common co-morbid conditions and medications prescribed among patients with CKD, using a recent national population based ambulatory care survey. METHODS: This study utilized the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) data from 2002 through 2005. The NAMCS and NHAMCS are national probability surveys of visits to office-based physicians and ambulatory services in hospital outpatient and emergency departments. CKD-related visits were identified using diagnosis codes (ICD-9-CM: 016.0, 572.4, 580-588, 591, 593.9, 572.4, 753.1, 753.3, 753.2, V18.6,794.4) or prescription for CKD specific medications (brand and generic drug codes: calcium acetate,sevelamer,lanthanum carbonate,cinacalcet). Frequency analysis of the CKD visits by setting and demographic characteristics was performed. Similarly, frequency analysis was performed to identify the most common co-morbid diagnosis and medications prescribed among CKD patients. National estimates on visits were estimated using patient visits weights provided in the NAMCS and NHAMCS. RESULTS: In, 2005 there were 9.7million visits related to CKD, 8.1 million physician office visits, 0.9 million emergency department, and 0.7 million outpatient hospital department visits, representing a 140% increase compared to 7.1 million visits in 2002. The most common co-morbid conditions among CKD patients were essential hypertension (22.3%), diabetes mellitus (17.5%), anemia (5.4%), coronary atherosclerosis (4.5%), and congestive heart failure (3.5%). Similarly, the most commonly prescribed medications among CKD patients were furosemide (16.3), atorvastatin (9.1%), lisinopril (9.0%), amlodipine (9%), aspirin (8.6%), levothyroxine (7.9%), metaraminol (7.8%), insulin (7.4), atenolol (6.1%), and potassium replacement solutions (5.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies the most common co-morbidities diagnosed among CKD patients. Early screening and treatment for these conditions may help lower the rate of progression of CKD.