How serious is chronic kidney disease? Look at these 5 indicators!

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common health problem that can vary in severity from person to person. Understanding the following five key indicators can help you determine the progression and severity of your CKD.

1. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

Glomerular filtration rate is the core indicator for evaluating kidney function. It reflects the ability of the kidney to filter waste and excess water from the blood. Under normal circumstances, a high GFR value indicates good kidney function. Generally speaking, a GFR below 60ml/min/1.73m² means that kidney function has been damaged to varying degrees. When the GFR drops below 15ml/min/1.73m², it enters the uremia stage, at which time kidney function is severely impaired and replacement therapy such as dialysis or kidney transplantation is required.

2. Urine protein

The appearance of protein in urine is an important sign of kidney disease. Healthy people's urine contains only a very small amount of protein. When the filtering function of the kidneys is impaired, protein will leak into the urine. The more protein in urine, the more serious the kidney damage. Continuous large amounts of protein in urine will not only accelerate the progression of kidney disease, but also lead to problems such as malnutrition and decreased immunity. If long-term proteinuria is not controlled, it will gradually develop into kidney failure.

3. Serum creatinine

Serum creatinine is a product of muscle metabolism and is mainly excreted from the body through the kidneys. When kidney function declines, blood creatinine levels will increase. The increase in blood creatinine can reflect the degree of kidney damage to a certain extent. However, blood creatinine is affected by factors such as age, gender, and muscle mass. Generally speaking, the normal range of blood creatinine for men is 53 - 106μmol/L, and for women it is 44 - 97μmol/L. If blood creatinine is significantly beyond the normal range, it means that kidney function may have been severely damaged.

4. Blood pressure

The kidney is an important organ for regulating blood pressure. Patients with chronic kidney disease often have hypertension. In turn, hypertension will further aggravate kidney damage, forming a vicious cycle. Long-term hypertension will lead to increased pressure in the glomerulus, accelerate glomerular sclerosis and tubular atrophy. If blood pressure can be well controlled, it is crucial to delay the progression of kidney disease. Generally, patients with chronic kidney disease are required to control their blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg. If there is more urine protein, the blood pressure control target should be stricter.

5. Anemia

The kidneys can produce erythropoietin, which promotes the production of red blood cells. When kidney function is impaired, erythropoietin secretion decreases, leading to anemia. The severity of anemia is closely related to the progression of kidney disease. Patients with mid- to late-stage chronic kidney disease often experience varying degrees of anemia, manifested by symptoms such as pale complexion, fatigue, and dizziness. Anemia can affect the normal functions of various organs in the body, reduce the patient's quality of life and mobility, and also increase the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease.

The severity of chronic kidney disease needs to be judged based on these five indicators. Patients should undergo regular examinations, pay close attention to changes in these indicators, and receive standardized treatment and management under the guidance of a doctor to delay disease progression and improve quality of life.