Chronic Kidney Disease Basics

Your kidneys, each just the size of a computer mouse, filter all the blood in your body every 30 minutes. They work hard to remove wastes, toxins, and excess fluid. They also help control blood pressure, stimulate production of red blood cells, keep your bones healthy, and regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life.

Kidneys that function properly are critical for maintaining good health, however, more than one in seven American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD).

About Chronic Kidney Disease

drawing of 7 people figures. 6 are shaded and 1 is white. — More than 1 in 715% of US adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease-that is about 30 million people.

CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste from blood remain in the body and may cause other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.

Some other health consequences of CKD include:

Anemia or low number of red blood cells
Increased occurrence of infections
Low calcium levels, high potassium levels, and high phosphorus levels in the blood
Loss of appetite or eating less
Depression or lower quality of life

CKD has varying levels of seriousness. It usually gets worse over time though treatment has been shown to slow progression. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease. When the kidneys stop working, dialysis or kidney transplant is needed for survival. Kidney failure treated with dialysis or kidney transplant is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Learn more about ESRD[PDF – 1 MB].

Not all patients with kidney disease progress to kidney failure. To help prevent CKD and lower the risk for kidney failure, control risk factors for CKD, get tested yearly, make lifestyle changes, take medicine as needed, and see your health care team regularly.

CKD by the Numbers

More than 30 million US adults are estimated to have CKD and most are undiagnosed.
Kidney diseases are the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.
48% of people with severely reduced kidney function and not on dialysis are not aware of even having CKD.
Every 24 hours, more than 300 people begin dialysis treatment for kidney failure.
In the United States, diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading cause of kidney failure, representing about 3 out of 4 new cases.
In 2014, treating Medicare beneficiaries with CKD cost the United States $61 billion, and treating people with ESRD cost $33 billion.

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Risk Factors

Talk to your doctor about getting tested if you have any of these risk factors:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Family history of CKD
Obesity

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Symptoms

X-ray of human body showing highlighted kidneys

People with CKD may not feel ill or notice any symptoms. The only way to find out for sure if you have CKD is through specific blood and urine tests. These tests include measurement of both the creatinine level in the blood and protein in the urine.

Quick Facts: CKD Snapshot

Kidney diseases are the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.
Early CKD has no signs or symptoms.
Specific blood and urine tests are needed to check for CKD.
CKD tends to get worse over time.
CKD can be treated (the earlier treatment starts the better).
CKD can progress to kidney failure.

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Kidney-Friendly Tips

Keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg (or the target your doctor establishes for you).
If you have diabetes, stay in your target blood sugar range as much as possible.
Get active—physical activity helps control blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Lose weight if you’re overweight.
Get tested for CKD regularly if you’re at risk.
If you have CKD, meet with a dietician to create a kidney-healthy eating plan. The plan may need to change as you get older or if your health status changes.
Take medications as instructed, and ask your doctor about blood pressure medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, which may protect your kidneys in addition to lowering blood pressure.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking can worsen kidney disease and interfere with medication that lowers blood pressure.
Include a kidney doctor (nephrologist) on your health care team.

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Costs

Overall Medicare costs for people with CKD were about $61 billion in 2014, or nearly $23,000 per person.
Total Medicare spending (excluding prescription drugs) for patients with ESRD or kidney failure reached nearly $33 billion in 2014, or more than $75,000 per person, accounting for about 7% of the Medicare paid claims costs.