Acute Medicine | Renal | Definitions of chronic kidney disease

Definitions of Chronic Kidney Disease
Session Overview
Description
This session outlines some key definitions in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Define the stages of chronic kidney disease and identify when to seek expert advice

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) simply means that there is a permanent (irreversible) abnormality of the kidneys. Symptoms of kidney failure only develop at an advanced stage, so many patients will be unaware that they have a kidney problem. However some studies suggest that 5-10% of the adult population of the USA have CKD!

CKD is often discovered when urine or blood tests are carried out for some other reason – for example routine employment medical screening – which then reveal signs of kidney disease at an early or moderate stage.

Early diagnosis of kidney disease is important in order to try and prevent further loss of kidney function, to avoid the eventual need for dialysis (end stage renal failure) and to reduce the risk of other complications.

A greater understanding of CKD will enable you to identify and manage patients at an earlier stage of kidney disease and leave you better equipped to make decisions about specialist referrals.