RenalWEB Home Page
Last Updated 06/14/09

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is permanent kidney damage due to injury or disease. More than 20 million Americans-one in nine adults-have chronic kidney disease, and most don't even know it. More than 20 million others are at increased risk.

How long you can live with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Some people with early CKD never experience kidney failure. Others reach kidney failure (end-stage renal disease (ESRD)) and live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants.

Simple tests in a doctor's office can detect chronic kidney disease in its early stages when lifestyle changes and medication can be prescribed to delay or prevent the progression of kidney disease and its complications. Left untreated, chronic kidney disease may ultimately lead to kidney failure and/or heart disease.

There are many risk factors that make having CKD more likely, with the leading risk factors being diabetes, hypertension, and a family history of CKD.

Warning: Changes should never be made in a patient's treatment or care based solely on the information found here.  All patients have unique healthcare concerns and considerations and these must all be taken into account before any changes can be safely made.  All medical and therapeutic decisions must come from a qualified health care provider.  Read RenalWEB's Legal Disclaimer before proceeding.

  NEWS and LATEST ARTICLES
‘Thousands of Britons Dying as Doctors Miss Signs of Kidney Failure' - Article from The Times Online. Related article from the BBC. - June 11, 2009
Sodium Restriction Improves the Gustatory Threshold (recognition and detection) for Salty Taste in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease - Advance online abstract from Kidney International. - June 10, 2009
Association Between Repeat Hospitalization and Early Intervention in Dialysis Patients Following Hospital Discharge - Advance online abstract from Kidney International. - June 10, 2009
Residual Renal Function at the Start of Dialysis and Clinical Outcome - Advance Access abstract from NDT. - June 10, 2009
Incidence of end-stage renal disease and death among insured African Americans with chronic kidney disease - Advance online abstract from Kidney International. - June 10, 2009
A scoring system to predict renal outcome in IgA nephropathy: a nationwide 10-year prospective cohort study - Full text Advance Access article from NDT. - June 10, 2009
Gene may help explain kidney failure in African-Americans - Article from CNN.com. - June 8, 2009
The Hazards of Dual Renin-Angiotensin Blockade in Chronic Kidney Disease - Extract from the Archives of Internal Medicine. - June 8, 2009
Experience with Tacrolimus in Children with Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome - Online First™ Open Access, full-text article from Pediatric Nephrology. - June 5, 2009
Prevalence of Major Depressive Episode in CKD - Article in Press abstract from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - June 4, 2009
HIV-Associated Kidney Disease - Article from Medscape Nephrology. - June 2, 2009
USRDS Incident and Prevalent Statistics for 1st Half of 2008 - Data from the United States Renal Data System. Click on the tabs to switch from Incident to Prevalent. - June 2009
Multidisciplinary Predialysis Education Decreases the Incidence of Dialysis and Reduces Mortality—a Controlled Cohort Study Based on the NKF/DOQI Guidelines - Advance Access abstract from NDT. - June 2, 2009
WCN 2009: New Class of Agents May Improve Renal Function in Diabetic Nephropathy - Article from Medscape Nephrology. - June 1, 2009
Definition and Classification of CKD: The Debate Should Be About Patient Prognosis—A Position Statement From KDOQI and KDIGO - Free, full-text editorial and related article from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - June 2009
Long-term Outcomes After Acute Kidney Injury: Where We Stand and How We Can Move Forward - Free, full-text editorial from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - June 2009
Two Drugs Safe for Rare Forms of Kidney Cancer - Article from HealthDay News. - May 31, 2009
Six-Year Dialysis Freedom in End-Stage Renal Disease - Online First abstract from Clinical and Experimental Nephrology. - May 30, 2009
New Formula Promises More Accurate Estimation of Kidney Function - Article by Lynda A. Szczech, MD from Medscape Nephrology. - May 28, 2009
Obesity-Related Nephropathy in Children - Article from Medscape Nephrology. - May 28, 2009
WCN 2009: Chronic Kidney Disease in Women Appears Worse at Baseline, but Progression Is Slower and Survival Better - Article from Medscape Nephrology. - May 28, 2009
Kidney Disease Causes 1 in 10 Deaths in Australia - Article from ABC News (Australia). - May 27, 2009
WCN 2009: Low-Level Cadmium Exposure Increases Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease - Article from Medscape Nephrology (registration required, but free). - May 26, 2009
Birth Defects of the Kidney Explained in New NIDDK Fact Sheets - News release from the NIH. - May 26, 2009
Prediction, Progression, and Outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease in Older Adults - JASN ePress abstract. - May 21, 2009
The Two Faces of Geriatric Kidney Disease - Presentation by Joel Topf, MD from Precious Bodily Fluids. - May 21, 2009
Initiation of Dialysis at Higher GFRs: Is the Apparent Rising Tide of Early Dialysis Harmful or Helpful? - Abstract of Advance Online Mini Review from Kidney International. - May 20, 2009
Kidney Diseases Beyond Nephrology: Intensive Care - (Registration required, but free) Article from Medscape Nephrology. - May 19, 2009
Emerging Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Kidney Disease: What is Their Role? - Advance online abstract from Nature Reviews Nephrology. - May 19, 2009
CKD and Risk of Hospitalization and Death With Pneumonia - Article in Press abstract from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - May 18, 2009
Research Points to a New Way To Protect Kidneys Threatened by Insufficient Blood or Toxins - News release from the Medical College of Georgia. - May 18, 2009
ACE Inhibitors Not Always Best for CKD - Article from 6minutes.com. - May 18, 2009
 
Top of Page

  WEB RESOURCES
Latest Scientific Journal Articles on Chronic Kidney Disease - list compiled by RenalWEB's Journal Watch
AAKP Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine from the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) web site
About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) from The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Learning System (KLS) web site
American Diabetes Association web site
Anemia and Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf) from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Anemia: Mobilizing Resources for Positive Outcomes (pdf) from the Kidney Learning System web site
Are You At Risk for Kidney Disease? from the American Kidney Fund web site
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) Clinical and Genetic Resource from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Core Center
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) : The Basics 2006 slide show from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Core Center
Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Replacement Therapy in ARPKD slide show from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease Core Center
Barriers to successful care for chronic kidney disease (pdf) from BMC Nephrology - October 27, 2005
Better Chronic Disease Care program from California Healthcare Foundation
Choosing the Right Treatment from Fresenius Medical Care/UltraCare web site
Chronic Kidney Disease from the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) web site
Chronic Kidney Disease from the Hypertension, Dialysis, & Clinical Nephrology (HDCN) web site
Chronic Kidney Disease from the American Kidney Fund web site
Common Questions from the American Kidney Fund web site
Education and Teaching Resources from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit web site
2008 ESRD Briefing Book for State and Federal Policy Makers (pdf format requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) - from the ANNA web site
5-Minute Educational/Entertainment Film from Renal Support Network - video from the Renal Support Network/YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions About GFR Estimates - from The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Learning System (KLS) web site
Hyperphosphatemia and Chronic Kidney Disease - from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
IgA nephropathy from the About web site
KEY - Kidney Education and You - free kidney education classes from the DaVita web site
Kidney disease from the InteliHealth web site for general health information (subsidiary of Aetna U.S. Healthcare)
Kidney Diseases from the National Institute of Health web site
Kidney Diseases Dictionary from the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Kidney Health Library from the Kidney & Urology Foundation of America (KUFA) web site
Kidney Health Podcast Series from the American Kidney Fund (AKF) web site
Kidney Learning System (KLS)™ from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Life Options Rehabilitation Program Introduction to Chronic Kidney Disease
Living Well with Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf) from the American Kidney Fund (AKF) web site
Medicare for Children with Chronic Kidney Disease from the Medicare web site
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease web site
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Educational Materials from the PKD Foundation web site
Sodium and PKD - article from the PKD Foundation web site
Take Six Steps that Count to Fight Kidney Disease - article from the American Kidney Fund
10 Steps for Protecting Kidney Health from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Uremic Toxins: What Are They? An Integrated Overview of Pathobiology and Classification from the Journal of Renal Nutrition
What Is Your Kidney Score? from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
What You Can Do from the Life Options web site
When Your Child Has a Chronic Kidney Disease from the Nemours Foundation web site
 
Top of Page

  ESSENTIALS AND CLASSICS
CE Program - Chronic Kidney Disease - What Every Nurse Should Know from the ANNA web site
Core Curriculum: Chronic Kidney Disease - full-text article from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases - January 2007
CE Program - Chronic Kidney Disease - Nursing Guidelines for Patient Education from the ANNA web site
Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Disease - Using the ANNA Standards and Practice Guidelines to Improve Care - CE article from the Nephrology Nursing Journal
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 1: Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease - Hemodialysis in the Long Term Care Setting from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 2: Stage 3 & 4 CKD from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 3: Stage 1 & 2 CKD from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
Chronic Kidney Disease: What Every Nurse Should Know - Module 6: Chronic Kidney Disease - The Post Transplant Patient from the American Nephrology Nurses Association web site
The Well-Controlled Patient: Looking Beyond the Lab Tests from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
Indicators for Chronic Disease Surveillance (pdf) - article from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) - September 10, 2004
Risk Factors for CKD from the Life Options web site
10 Symptoms of Kidney Disease from the Life Options web site
Frequently Asked Questions about CKD from the Life Options web site
Learn the Six Warning Signs of Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) web site
 
Top of Page

  BEST CLINICAL PRACTICES
National Service Framework for Renal Services - Part Two: Chronic kidney disease, acute renal failure and end of life care - from the Department of Health (DH)
The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is designed to identify those at risk for kidney disease - from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
Chronic Kidney Disease: Developing a Clinical Action Plan from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
Guidelines for Managing Kidney Disease from the Canadian Medical Association
Testing for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Position Statement From the National Kidney Foundation - full-text article from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases - August 2007
A Team Approach to Managing Bone Disease in CKD Stage 5 (pdf) from the National Kidney Foundation web site
Healthy People 2010 - National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines for managing Chronic Kidney Disease
VA Targets Kidney Disease - Department of Veterans Affairs clinical guidelines for managing Chronic Kidney Failure
Elevated levels of serum creatinine: recommendations for management and referral - from the Canadian Medical Association - 1999
 
Top of Page

  K/DOQI™ -  Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative
K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification
K/DOQI Chronic Kidney Disease Executive Summary
K/DOQI Guidelines: Two clinical guidelines for when to initiate dialysis
Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Practice Recommendations for Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease (pdf format requires Adobe Acrobat reader) 
KDIGO Guideline for Hepatitis C in CKD from Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) - August 2008
 

  PUBMED SEARCHES (National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE Database)
Kidney Diseases (General) from MEDLINEplus Health Information
chronic kidney disease Continually Updated!
chronic kidney disease AND risk factors Continually Updated!
MEDLINE / Pubmed Information from the National Library of Medicine
 

  PRODUCTS
 
 

  STATISTICS
Renal Data Extraction and Referencing (RenDER) System and Incident and Prevalent Statistics for 1st Half of 2008 - online data querying application accessible through the United States Renal Data System (USRDS)
Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States from the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) web site
Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and Associated Risk Factors --- United States, 1999--2004 from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - March 2, 2007
Racial Differences in Trends of End-Stage Renal Disease, by Primary Diagnosis --- United States, 1994--2004 from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - March 23, 2007
US Government Goals: Chronic Kidney Disease Chapter from the Healthy People 2010 Objectives
statehealthfacts.org - your source for state health data
 
Top of Page

  UPCOMING EVENTS
NKF Health Screening Schedule - The National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is designed to identify those at risk for kidney disease - scroll down to view multiple screening dates and contact phone numbers.
Kidney Beginnings: Live - The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) FREE educational program that educates individuals about the basics of kidney disease and proper kidney care.
 
Top of Page

  RELATED TOPICS
Dialysis Outcomes and Topics from the RenalWEB web site Continually Updated!
 
Top of Page

  INPUT / SUGGESTIONS
E-mail to RenalWEB on the Chronic Kidney Disease Page
 
Top of Page