🩺 CKD Diagnosis & Staging
Understanding how chronic kidney disease is diagnosed and staged is crucial for managing your kidney health. This guide explains the key tests, what they mean, and how doctors determine your CKD stage.
Key Tests for CKD Diagnosis
🧮 eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
Think of eGFR as your kidney's "speedometer" - it measures how fast your kidneys can filter waste from your blood.
Normal: 90+ mL/min
Mild reduction: 60-89 mL/min
Moderate reduction: 30-59 mL/min
Severe reduction: 15-29 mL/min
Kidney failure: <15 mL/min
🔍 UACR (Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio)
This test is like a "leak detector" - it finds protein that's leaking into your urine, which shouldn't happen with healthy kidneys.
Normal: <30 mg/g
Mildly increased: 30-300 mg/g
Moderately increased: 300-1000 mg/g
Severely increased: >1000 mg/g
🧪 Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product that builds up when kidneys aren't working well - like trash piling up when the garbage truck doesn't come.
Normal (men): 0.7-1.3 mg/dL
Normal (women): 0.6-1.1 mg/dL
Elevated: >1.3 mg/dL (men) or >1.1 mg/dL (women)
🩸 Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can both cause and worsen kidney disease. It's like putting too much pressure on your kidney's filtering system.
Normal: <120/80 mmHg
Elevated: 120-129/<80 mmHg
High: 130/80 mmHg or higher
CKD Stages: Understanding Your Level
CKD is divided into 5 stages, like a traffic light system for kidney health. The higher the stage, the more attention your kidneys need:
| Stage | eGFR | Kidney Function | What This Means | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 90+ mL/min | Normal or near normal | Kidney damage present but function is good | Monitor and protect kidneys |
| Stage 2 | 60-89 mL/min | Mildly reduced | Mild decrease in kidney function | Lifestyle changes, regular monitoring |
| Stage 3 | 30-59 mL/min | Moderately reduced | Moderate decrease in kidney function | More frequent monitoring, diet changes |
| Stage 4 | 15-29 mL/min | Severely reduced | Severe decrease in kidney function | Prepare for dialysis/transplant |
| Stage 5 | <15 mL/min | Kidney failure | Kidneys have stopped working | Dialysis or transplant needed |
⚠️ When Should I See a Kidney Specialist?
See a nephrologist if you have:
What a nephrologist can do:
- • Provide specialized kidney care
- • Order and interpret kidney tests
- • Prescribe kidney-specific medications
- • Help manage complications
- • Prepare you for dialysis if needed
- • Coordinate transplant evaluation
- • Create personalized treatment plans
- • Monitor your progress closely
How CKD is Diagnosed
Step 1: Initial Screening
Your doctor may check for CKD if you have risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, family history, or if you're over 60 years old.
Step 2: Confirming the Diagnosis
CKD is confirmed when kidney damage or reduced function persists for 3 months or longer. This helps rule out temporary kidney problems.
• Kidney damage: Protein in urine, abnormal imaging, or kidney biopsy
• Reduced function: eGFR <60 mL/min for 3+ months
• Monitoring: Tests repeated over time to confirm pattern
Step 3: Determining the Stage
Your CKD stage is based on your eGFR level and the presence of kidney damage. This helps guide treatment decisions.
• Stage 1-2: Normal or mildly reduced function with kidney damage
• Stage 3: Moderately reduced function (30-59 mL/min)
• Stage 4: Severely reduced function (15-29 mL/min)
• Stage 5: Kidney failure (<15 mL/min)
Key Takeaways
- • eGFR is your kidney's "speedometer" - it measures how fast your kidneys work
- • UACR is your kidney's "leak detector" - it finds protein leaks in urine
- • CKD stages 1-3 are manageable - focus on prevention and lifestyle changes
- • Stages 4-5 need specialized care - prepare for advanced treatments
- • Regular monitoring is crucial - catching changes early makes a big difference
- • See a nephrologist early - don't wait until kidney function is severely reduced