Stages of 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.

CKD is evaluated using two simple tests – a blood test known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and a urine test known as the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR). Both tests are needed to have a clear picture of your kidney health. When identifying your CKD stage, these tests usually need to be repeated to confirm long-term damage (lasting 3 months or more).

Anyone can develop CKD – at any age. However, people with one or more of the risk factors above are more likely than others to develop CKD. Usually, developing CKD is not due to any single reason, but because of a combination of physical, environmental, and social factors. Early detection is important – CKD often begins without causing any obvious symptoms. Knowing the risk factors can help you know your level of risk and if you should get checked for CKD.