Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

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What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that the kidneys are not working as well as they used to. It is a common condition that can get worse over time.

In most people who have chronic kidney disease there is only a mild or moderate drop in kidney function.

What causes chronic kidney disease?

A number of conditions can cause long-term damage to the kidneys and affect their function, leading to chronic kidney disease. The three most common causes in the UK are:

  • Diabetes – Diabetic kidney disease is a common complication of diabetes.
  • High blood pressure – Untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure is a major cause of CKD.
  • Ageing kidneys – There is often an age-related decline in kidney function. About half of people aged over 75 have some degree of CKD. In most of these cases, the CKD does not progress beyond the moderate stage unless other problems of the kidney, such as diabetic kidney disease, develop.

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease

There are usually no symptoms of kidney disease in the early stages.

Preventing or slowing down the progression of chronic kidney disease

There are ways to stop chronic kidney disease becoming any worse or to slow down any progression. These usually include:

  • Blood pressure control – The most important treatment to prevent or delay the progression of chronic kidney disease, whatever the underlying cause, is to keep blood pressure very well controlled. Many people with CKD will require medication to control their blood pressure.
  • Review of medication – Certain medicines can affect the kidneys as a side-effect which can make CKD worse. For example, people with CKD should not take anti-inflammatory medicines (like ibuprofen) unless advised to by a doctor. The dose of certain medicines may also need to be adjusted if CKD gets worse.
  • Diet – People with more advanced CKD (stage 4 or 5) may be advised to follow a special diet.

Monitoring for chronic kidney disease

People with CKD should attend for regular checks which include blood pressure and urine and blood tests. The frequency of these tests will depend on the stage of CKD. The practice will invite patients for tests when these are due.

More Information

To find out more, please visit Chronic kidney disease – NHS