It shows up when the kidneys become damaged and can no longer adequately filter blood.
Kidney disease can worsen over time and lead to kidney failure, which affects life expectancy.
Early diagnosis can help prevent further damage to the kidneys.
Cavan Images / Raffi Maghdessian
Chronic kidney disease is a slow, progressive disease diagnosed in stages.
Although the disease usually gets worse, treatment can slow the progression significantly.
Some people’s disease will never progress beyond stage 3.
Chronic Kidney Disease Stages
Thestages of chronic kidney diseaserange from mild to severe.
In the early stages (1 and 2), kidney damage is mild.
The kidneys still work fairly well, and symptoms may not occur.
The only indication of kidney damage may be in specific blood or urine tests.
Chronic kidney diseases effect on life expectancy depends on the amount of damage to the kidneys.
The later stages of CKD occur when damage to the kidneys becomes more apparent.
Symptoms often appear in these stages.
Is Kidney Disease Terminal?
However, progression is not inevitable.
Damage to the kidneys is permanent, so it is important to prevent further damage.
These substages are based on aneGFR blood test, which measures how well the kidneys filter waste.
An eGFR between 45 and 59 indicates stage 3a.
Kidney damage in this stage is mild to moderate.
Symptoms include:
An eGFR between 30 and 44 indicates stage 3b.
Kidney damage is moderate to severe, and symptoms may progress.
Other health problems, such as high blood pressure and bone disease, may also occur.
How Long Does It Take to Progress From Stage 3 to Stage 4?
Stage 4 Kidney Disease
Stage 4 indicates severe kidney damage with an eGFR of 15-29.
Symptoms can include:
Other health problems can develop because of the buildup of waste in the body.
These include:
Stage 4 is the last stage before kidney failure.
Damage to the kidneys is severe.The kidneys have failed.
At this stage, the disease has progressed quite far.
At this stage, the kidneys have failed.
The damage to the kidneys cannot be undone.
Coping With Chronic Kidney Disease
Living well with chronic kidney disease is possible.
Signs and Symptoms of CKD
In the early stages of CKD, there may not be symptoms.
Though there may be damage to the kidneys, the damage is not enough to cause symptoms.
As CKD progresses, symptoms develop.
High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys and affect their ability to function.
Early chronic kidney disease often does not have symptoms.
Diagnosing the disease requires medical tests.
These tests include the eGFR blood test to check kidney function and urine tests that check for protein.
Steps taken to manage CKD can also improve overall health.
These include:
Dialysis and kidney transplant are used to treat end-stage kidney disease.
Dialysis allows people with end-stage kidney disease to prolong life by years or even decades.
Dialysis is also an option for those who are waiting for a kidney transplant.
A kidney transplant is one of the best options for end-stage renal disease.
Long-term survival and quality of life increase with a transplant.
Summary
Life expectancy with chronic kidney disease depends on the age at which you enter each stage.
There are five stages of CKD, with stages 3, 4, and 5 being the most severe.
Seeking early diagnosis and treatment for CKD can improve life expectancy.
Treatment options are available.
Dialysis and kidney transplant can lead to a longer and better quality of life.
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