Definition of Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is kidney disease (regardless of the cause) that is unlikely to be completely reversed. According to the National Kidney Foundation’s Committee (K-DOQI) on CKD, it is present if one of the two criteria are met for at least 3 months:

Signs of Kidney Damage

Damage to the kidneys may or may not involve kidney failure. Examples of conditions qualifying as signs of damage include:

• Blood in urine
• Protein in urine
• Abnormal blood or other urine tests
• Abnormal imaging tests
• Abnormal kidney biopsy

Kidney Function Decreased

Chronic kidney disease can be diagnosed if the kidney function (as measured by GFR is significantly decreased for an extended period of time. Significantly decreased is defined as:

• Less than half of normal function
• GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²