KIDNEY DISEASE, CHRONIC (CKD)

CKD is a long-term condition in which waste products normally removed by the kidneys remain in the blood. A person with CKD is at increased risk of heart attack or stroke, especially if they smoke or are overweight. CKD affects about 1 in 10 of the UK population, and at age ≥75 years 1 in 2 because of normal ageing of kidneys. Fewer than 1 in 10 people with CKD ever require dialysis or a kidney transplant, but people with CKD should have regular checks of kidney function and blood pressure. In the UK, CKD is most often caused by diabetes (CKD is a common complication of diabetes), uncontrolled or poorly treated hypertension, or an age-related decline in kidney function. There are other less common causes. The focus of primary care management is cardiovascular risk reduction. Control of blood pressure, especially in individuals with proteinuria, reduces cardiovascular risk and slows progression of kidney disease, delaying the need for dialysis or transplantation.