What is Chronic Kidney Disease? Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an irreversible condition that progresses causing renal dysfunction that is present for at least 3 months eventually leading to renal failure. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 1 in 3 American adults is at risk for kidney disease (National Kidney Foundation, 2012). CKD is an ongoing process of renal injury that causes compensatory hyperfiltration in less affected glomeruli, which eventually leads to the destruction of those glomeruli as well (Buttaro et al., 2013). There are five stages of CKD beginning with Stage 1: Kidney damage with normal or elevated GFR (>89 mL/min); Stage 2: Kidney damage with mild decrease in GFR (60-89 mL/min; Stage 3: Moderate decrease
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That is why early screening and detection is of key importance to prevent CKD progressing to renal failure. There are two methods for available for screening and helping to detect individuals with CKD. Albumin Creatinine Ratio (ACR) is a urine test which estimates the amount of a type of protein, albumin, that is in your urine and the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) can determine how well kidneys are functioning to remove wastes from your blood (National Kidney Foundation, 2012). GFR is the best approach for assessing kidney function. 90 and above is good, 60-89 requires monitoring, and levels that remain less than 60 for 3 months signify renal disease. A thorough history and physical exam are also important to help determine CKD. Individuals with a known family history of CKD are at a greater risk for also developing the disease. If the patient doesn’t openly provide details about their family history, it is important that the clinician probes and ask vital questions that may provide these details. Although a requirement, the physical examination is sometimes not very helpful but may reveal findings characteristic of the underlying
That is why early screening and detection is of key importance to prevent CKD progressing to renal failure. There are two methods for available for screening and helping to detect individuals with CKD. Albumin Creatinine Ratio (ACR) is a urine test which estimates the amount of a type of protein, albumin, that is in your urine and the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) can determine how well kidneys are functioning to remove wastes from your blood (National Kidney Foundation, 2012). GFR is the best approach for assessing kidney function. 90 and above is good, 60-89 requires monitoring, and levels that remain less than 60 for 3 months signify renal disease. A thorough history and physical exam are also important to help determine CKD. Individuals with a known family history of CKD are at a greater risk for also developing the disease. If the patient doesn’t openly provide details about their family history, it is important that the clinician probes and ask vital questions that may provide these details. Although a requirement, the physical examination is sometimes not very helpful but may reveal findings characteristic of the underlying