There are five Stages of CKD, with the most advanced being Stage 5, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (
Stage 2 Mild CKD (GFR = 60-89 mL/min) Stage 3A Moderate CKD (GFR = 45-59 mL/min) Stage 3B Moderate CKD (GFR = 30-44 mL/min) Stage 4 Severe CKD (GFR = 15-29 mL/min)
You may be able to improve your GFR somewhat by changing your lifestyle. Keep in mind that there's no cure for CKD. But healthy habits may slow the progression of the disease. Because diabetes and high blood pressure are the main causes of CKD, it's vital to keep both under control.
In general, an eGFR value lower than 60 is a sign that the kidneys may not be working properly. An eGFR lower than 15 is a marker of kidney failure. In less common situations where a more accurate measure of your kidney function is needed, your healthcare provider may order a measured GFR (mGFR).
GFR can be increased by following few simple steps at home. Reduce the amount of creatinine and protein in your diet- By doing so, it will reduce the complications of kidney disease. If you do not do this, high-protein and high-creatinine foods will give more loads to the functioning of the kidney.
Kidney disease progresses at different rates for different people, and it can take between two and five years to pass between different stages. Kidney disease stages are measured by using a blood test to check the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
A survey of 13 studies on stage 3 kidney disease found that the all-cause mortality rate varied from 6% in 3 years to 51% in ten years. However, it also found that progression of kidney damage into stage 4 kidney disease was sporadic.
Dialysis can help with symptoms caused by kidney failure, but if you have other medical conditions, eg stroke, Parkinson's disease, peripheral vascular disease, frailty, or dementia, dialysis won't help with the symptoms that they cause, and could even make them worse.
Guidelines for doctors about when to start dialysis include kidney failure symptoms, problems controlling blood pressure, problems controlling fluid, and problems with nutrition. The guidelines suggest that if you are not having these problems, you can wait to have dialysis until your eGFR is 6 mL/min.
Dialysis treatment is needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body's needs. You need dialysis when you develop end stage kidney failure, usually by the time you lose about 85 to 90 percent of your kidney function and have a GFR of <15.
As much as anything else, life expectancy for kidney disease depends on a person's age and sex. For a 60-year-old man, stage 1 kidney disease life expectancy will be approximately 15 years. That figure falls to 13 years, 8 years, and 6 years in the second, third, and fourth stages of kidney disease respectively.
As mentioned before, stage 3 kidney disease can be managed efficiently when diagnosed early. Although it may be different for every patient since their lifestyle factors play an important role, the average life expectancy for people diagnosed at 40 is 28 years for women and 24 for men.
GFR generally declines at a rate of 1 mL/min/year. However, patients who lose renal function faster than the average age-related decline in GFR tend to progress to ESRD. Krolewski et al. defined progressive renal decline as an eGFR loss of ⩾3.3% per year.
Eat a kidney-friendly diet and exercise regularly.
Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also effective ways to help manage your disease progression. Talk to your doctor about incorporating exercise into your daily routine.
While it's not possible to reverse kidney damage, you can take steps to slow it down. Taking prescribed medicine, being physically active, and eating well will help. You'll also feel better and improve your overall well-being.
A decrease or decline in the GFR implies progression of underlying kidney disease or the occurrence of a superimposed insult to the kidneys. This is most commonly due to problems such as dehydration and volume loss.
If you have a GFR number less than 60, it may mean you have kidney disease. You'll want to talk to your doctor about treatment options that are best for you. If you have a GFR number less than 15, it may mean your kidneys are failing.
If your eGFR was 60 or less, talk to your doctor right away! Ask when you should be tested again. If this was your first eGFR test, you may need to be tested again in a few months. Your doctor will want to see if your eGFR is 60 or less for three months or more.
When your kidneys aren't working properly, dialysis is used to try to achieve balance by imitating the fluid and toxin removal functions of healthy kidneys. But for many kidney patients, treating three times per week may not be enough dialysis, and this can hurt their heart.