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About Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. To read more about kidney function, see How Your Kidneys Work. CKD is also known as chronic renal disease. Click the links below for more information:
Facts and Frequently asked questions
30 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk.Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.Heart disease is the major cause of death for all people with CKD.Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best estimate of kidney function.Hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension.Persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine) means CKD is present.High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney disease.Three simple tests can detect CKD: blood pressure, urine albumin and serum creatinine.
Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, waste products can build up to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health, and nerve damage. Also, kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. These problems may happen slowly over a long period of time. Chronic kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, and other disorders. Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse. When kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life.
Anyone can develop CKD — at any age. However, some people are at a higher risk than others. The most common CKD risk factors are:DiabetesHigh blood pressure (hypertension)Heart disease and/or heart failureObesityOver the age of 60Family history Smoking and/or use of tobacco productsFor many people, CKD is not caused by just one reason. Instead, it is a result of many physical, environmental, and social factors. Early detection is important — CKD often begins without causing any noticeable symptoms. Knowing the risk factors can help you know your level of risk and if you should get checked for CKD.
Most people may not have any severe symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. However, you may notice that you:feel more tired and have less energyhave trouble concentratinghave a poor appetitehave trouble sleepinghave muscle cramping at nighthave swollen feet and ankleshave puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morninghave dry, itchy skinneed to urinate more often, especially at night
Your doctor will want to pinpoint your diagnosis and check your kidney function to help plan your treatment. The doctor may do the following: Calculate your Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), which is the best way to tell how much kidney function you have. You do not need to have another test to know your GFR. Your doctor can calculate it from your blood creatinine, your age, race, gender and other factors. Your GFR tells your doctor your stage of kidney disease and helps the doctor plan your treatment.Perform an ultrasound or CT scan to get a picture of your kidneys and urinary tract. This tells your doctor whether your kidneys are too large or too small, whether you have a problem like a kidney stone or tumor and whether there are any problems in the structure of your kidneys and urinary tract.Perform a kidney biopsy, which is done in some cases to check for a specific type of kidney disease, see how much kidney damage has occurred and help plan treatment. To do a biopsy, the doctor removes small pieces of kidney tissue and looks at them under a microscope. Your doctor may also ask you to see a kidney specialist who will consult on your case and help manage your care.
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