WHAT IS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

About Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem. In the US alone, 26 million adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk for developing it. Most people are unaware that they have CKD or may be at risk.

The term CKD refers to the five stages of kidney disease – the early stages (stages 1 and 2) as well as kidney failure (stage 5).
There is growing evidence that early detection and appropriate treatment may be effective in:

Delaying the onset of CKD in those at increased risk
Slowing CKD progression
Decreasing the development of cardiovascular disease in people with CKD.
Most people with CKD do not die of kidney failure – they die of heart disease! And heart disease, which is the cause of 40-50% of the deaths in CKD, occurs as early as stage 3.

CKD Risk Factors
Diabetes is the leading risk factor for CKD followed by high blood pressure. There are other causes as well.

Clinical Factors Sociodemographic Factors
Diabetes

Hypertension

Autoimmune diseases

Systemic infections

Urinary tract infections

Urinary stones

Lower urinary tract obstruction

Neoplasia

Family history of chronic kidney diseases

Recovery from acute kidney failure

Reduction in kidney mass

Exposure to certain drugs

Low birth weight Older age

US ethnic minority status: African
American, American Indian, Hispanic,
Asian or Pacific Islander

Exposure to certain chemical and
environmental conditions

Low income/education