Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD and its social implications
Chronic Kidney Disease, the silent epidemic – a social challenge

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the general name for persistent irreversible damage to the kidney.1 It is defined as either structured kidney damage or decreased kidney function (decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)) observed for 3 or more months.2

CKD is a serious condition associated with premature mortality, decreased quality of life, and increased healthcare expenditure.3 It presents a serious challenge for those affected, their families and healthcare providers. 1

References

1 EKHA European Kidney Health Alliance; www.ekha.eu.

2 Levey A.S. et al., National Kidney Foundation Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification, Ann Intern Med (2003); 139: 137-147.

3Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease, Kidney Int Suppl (2013); 3: 1-150.

Related topics
Treatment options

There are many clinics and hospitals that offer haemodialysis treatment.

CKD care