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About Chronic Kidney Disease

The kidneys are one of the hardest-working organs in the body, where a million tiny filters called nephrons work together to filter the blood to convert waste products and excess fluid into urine.1 The progressive loss of kidney function over a period is called chronic kidney disease (CKD).2

CKD is highly prevalent in various parts of the world, affecting approximately 850 million people which is more than ten percent of the population.3,4 With it mostly being asymptomatic (no symptoms) until later stages of the condition, most people go undiagnosed and every year millions die prematurely from CKD and related complications.3

What causes CKD?

CKD can occur at any age. However, some people are more likely than others to develop kidney disease.5 About one-third of CKD cases are attributable to metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, however those most at risk also include people who have a family history of CKD or are older in age.6,7,8

What are the symptoms of CKD?9

Most cases are asymptomatic, but as damage to the kidneys worsen, symptoms can include:

  • fatigue 
  • swollen ankles, feet, or hands 
  • shortness of breath 
  • feeling sick 
  • blood in the urine 
  • itchy skin 

How is CKD diagnosed?

  • A blood test checks how well the kidneys are filtering blood, using a metric called estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). 
  • A urine test checks for both albumin and creatinine in the urine, known as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). 

People with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions at higher risk of CKD and therefore should be screened according to guideline recommendations.10

 

References

  1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Your Kidneys and How They Work. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work#:~:text=Your%20kidneys%20remove%20wastes%20and,and%20potassium%E2%80%94in%20your%20blood. Last accessed: October 2022.
  2. Leon BM, Maddox TM. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease: Epidemiology, biological mechanisms, treatment recommendations and future research. World J Diabetes. 2015;6(13):1246–58. 
  3. Levin A, Tonelli M, Bonventre J, et al. Global kidney health 2017 and beyond: a roadmap for closing gaps in care, research, and policy. Lancet. 2017;390:1888-917. 
  4. Coresh J. Update on the Burden of CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;28(4):1020–1022. 
  5. National Kidney Foundation. Chronic kidney disease. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease. Last accessed: October 2022. 
  6. Yim HE, Yoo KH. Obesity and chronic kidney disease: prevalence, mechanism, and management. Clin Exp Pediatr. 2021;64(10):511-518. 
  7. Levin A, Tonelli M, Bonventre J, et al. Global kidney health 2017 and beyond: a roadmap for closing gaps in care, research, and policy. Lancet. 2017;390:1888-917. 
  8. Wang V, et al. LE. Semin Nephrol. 2016;36(4):319-30 
  9. NHS: Chronic Kidney Disease. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/. Last accessed: October 2022. 
  10. NHS: Chronic Kidney Disease. Diagnosis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/diagnosis/. Last accessed: October 2022.

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