Chronic kidney disease

Introduction

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys don't work as well as they should.

It's a common condition often associated with getting older. Anyone can getit, although it's more common in black people andpeople of south Asian origin.

CKD can get gradually worse over time and eventually the kidneys may stop working altogether, but this is uncommon.Manypeople with kidney disease are able to live long, largelynormal lives.

This page covers:

Symptoms of CKD

There are usually no symptoms of kidney disease in the early stages. It may only be picked up if blood or urine tests carried out for another reason detect a possible problem with your kidneys.

When it reaches a more advanced stage, symptoms can include:

tiredness
swollen ankles, feet or hands
Shortness of breath
feeling sick
blood inyour urine

See your GP if you have persistent or worrying symptoms that you think could be caused by kidney disease.

Often it's the result of a combination of different problems.

CKD can be caused by:

high blood pressure over time, this canput strain on the small blood vessels in the kidneys and stop the kidneys working properly
diabetes too much glucose in your blood can damage the tiny filters in the kidneys
high cholesterol this can cause a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels supplying your kidneys, which can make it harder for them to work properly
kidney infections
glomerulonephritis kidney inflammation
polycystic kidney disease an inherited condition where growths called cysts develop in the kidneys
blockages in the flow of urine for example, from recurrent kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
long-term, regular use of certain medicines such as lithium and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

You can help prevent CKD by making healthy lifestyle changes and ensuring any underlying conditions you have are well controlled.

Tests for CKD

CKD can be diagnosed using blood and urine tests. These tests are used to look for high levels of certain substances in your blood and urine that are signs your kidneys aren't working properly.

If you're at a high risk of developing kidney disease for example, you have one of the conditions mentioned above you may be advised to have regular tests to check for CKD so it's picked up at an early stage.

The results of your blood and urine tests can be used to tell the stage of your kidney disease. This is a number that reflects how severe the damage to your kidneys is, with a higher number indicating more serious CKD.

CKD only progresses to kidney failure in around1 in 50 people with the condition.

But if you have CKD, even if it's mild, you're at an increased risk of developing other serious problems, such as cardiovascular disease . This is a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, which includes heart attacks and strokes .

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in people with kidney disease,although healthy lifestyle changes and medication can help reduce your risk of developing it.