Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means your kidneys slowly get damaged and can't do important jobs like removing waste and keeping blood pressure normal.

Last updated: September 11, 2023|Medically reviewed by: Home Comfort Dialysis Patient Education Team

About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Your kidneys do many important jobs. Some of the ways they keep your whole body in balance include:

Removing natural waste products and extra water from your body
Helping make red blood cells
Balancing important minerals in your body
Helping maintain your blood pressure
Keeping your bones healthy

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when the kidneys have become damaged over time (for at least 3 months) and have a hard time doing all their important jobs. CKD also increases the risk of other health problems like heart disease and stroke.

Developing CKD is usually a very slow process with very few symptoms at first. So, CKD is divided into 5 stages to help guide treatment decisions.

The 5 Stages of CKD

Stage	eGFR (mL/min)	Description
Stage 1	90+	Kidney damage with normal function
Stage 2	60–89	Kidney damage with mild loss of function
Stage 3a	45–59	Mild to moderate loss of function
Stage 3b	30–44	Moderate to severe loss of function
Stage 4	15–29	Severe loss of function
Stage 5	<15	Kidney failure (requires dialysis or transplant)

Signs and Symptoms

CKD often has no symptoms in the early stages. As the disease progresses, you may notice:

Fatigue and weakness

Swelling in legs, ankles, or feet

Shortness of breath

Nausea or vomiting

Changes in urination (more or less)

Foamy or bubbly urine

Muscle cramps

Difficulty concentrating

Loss of appetite

Dry, itchy skin

Causes

The two most common causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, which together account for about two-thirds of all cases. Other causes include:

Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidney filters)
Polycystic kidney disease (inherited)
Repeated kidney infections
Prolonged use of certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs)
Lupus and other autoimmune diseases

Complications

CKD can lead to a range of serious health complications, including:

Heart Disease

CKD significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Anemia

Damaged kidneys produce less erythropoietin, reducing red blood cell production.

Bone Disease

Imbalance of calcium and phosphorus weakens bones over time.

Fluid Retention

Excess fluid can build up, causing swelling and high blood pressure.

Nerve Damage

Uremic toxins can damage nerves, causing numbness or weakness.

Kidney Failure

End-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplant.

Diagnosis

CKD is diagnosed through a combination of blood and urine tests. Key tests include:

eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
A blood test that measures how well your kidneys filter waste. Used to determine CKD stage.
Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR)
Checks for protein (albumin) in the urine, a sign of kidney damage.
Blood Pressure Measurement
High blood pressure is both a cause and a complication of CKD.
Imaging (Ultrasound)
Helps visualize kidney size, shape, and any structural abnormalities.
Kidney Biopsy
In some cases, a small tissue sample is taken to determine the cause of kidney disease.