Last week was Kidney Health Week, which helped raise awareness of chronic kidney diseases.

Southern Medical Centre (Moss Vale and Bundanoon) supported the national awareness campaign, offering free blood pressure and urine analysis.

Practice manager Helen Portus said the workers at the centres "felt so strongly" about raising awareness that they have offered to continue giving these free services this week.

"We have already detected patients with abnormalities that will need to be followed up," she said.

"These patients were totally unaware of any possible issues.

"Around 1.7 million adult Australians has at least one clinical sign of existing chronic kidney disease, yet less than 10% of Australians with the condition know they have it, so this is a great opportunity to raise awareness.

"Prevention and early detection is critical, as is understanding the impact that kidney disease can have on other conditions - such as high blood pressure and diabetes - and vice versa."

Some of the key risk factors of chronic kidney disease include:

Each year, around 60 Australians die with a kidney-related disease and 1 in 3 Australians is at increased risk of kidney disease.

An estimated 1.7 million Australians aged 18 years and over already has at least one clinical sign of existing chronic kidney disease.

To find out more, visit kidney.org.au