What does the phrase ‘chronic kidney disease’ mean?
Let’s look at the phrase ..
- ‘Chronic’ = long-term. This is dealt with by the fact that a blood test has to be measured twice over 3 months, as part of the definition below
- ‘Kidney’ = affecting both kidneys (or one if you have one).
- ‘Disease’ = abnormality. This can be reduced kidney function or a structural problem.
So ‘chronic kidney disease’ means .. a ‘long-term abnormality (of function or structure, that may or may not make you unwell) of both kidneys’.
That’s the easy version. Now it’s going to get a bit more complicated [“that’s unusual, never would have guessed that” CKDEx Ed].
This is how doctors define CKD, i.e. into 2 types ..
- ‘Functional CKD’ = an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min – that is present for at least three months (i.e. measured at least twice), with or without evidence of kidney damage; or,
- ‘Structural CKD’ = evidence of kidney damage with or without decreased GFR – that is present for at least three months, as shown by:
-
- Albuminuria (protein in urine),
- Haematuria (blood in urine, after exclusion of urological causes),
- Structural abnormalities (e.g. polycystic kidneys) on renal ultrasound) or
- Pathological abnormalities (e.g. on kidney biopsy).
Note. In other words, in some cases of CKD there is evidence of kidney damage but normal renal function (normal GFR and creatinine).
Other resources
What is CKD?
How is CKD defined?
What is a normal GFR?
5 stages of GFR explained
Last Reviewed on 10 April 2024