Know the Risk Factors for CKD

If you have one or more of the CKD Risk Factors you should visit your doctor or clinic.

Know the 5 Stages of CKD

If you have CKD it is very important to know your “stage” for the disease. There are five (5) stages of CKD; these stages are determined by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).  The stages are as follows:

    Stage                 GFR Level                  KidneyFunction     
Normal Kidneys    90 mL/min or more      Healthy Kidneys
Stage 1                 90 mL/min or more      Kidney damage with normal or high GFR
Stage 2                 60 to 89 mL/min          Kidney damage and mild decrease in GFR
Stage 3                 30 to 59 mL/min          Moderate decrease in GFR
Stage 4                 15 to 29 mL/min          Severe decrease in GFR
Stage 5                   Less than 15 mL/min  Kidney failure or on dialysis

Know What Tests You Need

• If you think you have CKD, get tested.

Calculate Your GFR


To calculate your GFR, click here.

Know the Impact of CKD

• According to the National Kidney Foundation there are an estimated 26 million adults in the U.S. with some form of CKD.
• Approximately 300,000 have Stage 5 CKD, or kidney failure. This group either is on dialysis or has a GFR of less than 15 mL/min.
• About 400,000 of the total have Stage 4 CKD, or severely reduced kidney function.
• Another 7.5 million are at Stage 3 (moderate reduced kidney function).
• The remaining individuals of the total have some kidney damage, but have normal or only mildly reduced kidney function (CKD Stages 1 and 2).

Know What You Should Do If You Have CKD

• Symptoms are normally mild and not detected until late in the course of the disease.
• The good news is that the course of CKD can be slowed with early detection.
• If you have CKD, it is important to do the following: 1


• Keep your appointments with your doctor
• Do not miss your dialysis treatments if at Stage 5
• Take your prescribed medication(s)
• Monitor your blood pressure
• Monitor and control your glucose levels (if diabetic)
• Reduce protein intake (once advised by doctor and nutritionist)
• Lower cholesterol level
• Stop Smoking
• Eliminate sodium (salt from diet)
• Reduce potassium from diet

Sources

1. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) - Your Kidneys and How They Work.  Available at:  http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/#8.  Accessed on September 4, 2008.