Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, can affect anyone at any age, irrespective of their gender. However, some individuals are more prone to CKD than others. Kidneys do not show any signs or symptoms of damage or discomfort at the initial stage. This leads to individuals suffering from CKD until the problem escalates.
Here are a few factors that lead to CKD:
– Diabetes
-High blood pressure
-Heart disease
-Obesity
-Age above 60
-Family history of CKD
-Personal history of acute kidney injury
– Smoking or tobacco addiction
In general, no single factor can be pinpointed as a cause of CKD. Several factors related to physical, environmental, and social segments lead to CKD. Hence, early detection of CKD becomes critical to ensure correct measures are chosen for treatment. In addition, regular testing can also help in preventing CKD and improving quality of life. Contrary to popular belief, renal tests are accessible, affordable and uncomplicated. Hence, this World Kidney Day, we will be discussing 2 tests that can help individuals understand their kidney health better and enable them to catch any issues before they get worse.
Two simple tests to understand renal health:
CKD is evaluated with a combination of two simple tests- a blood test known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and a urine test known as the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR). Both tests are required to get a clear picture of renal health or kidney condition.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR):
This particular test focuses on how well the kidneys filter blood. The healthcare provider tests the patient’s blood for levels of creatinine to find the eGFR. Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the digestion of protein in the patient’s food and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. It is removed from the body through the kidneys.
In CKD, the kidneys have trouble removing creatinine from the blood, which causes the eGFR number to go down.
This test usually requires multiple samples to confirm results and to base decisions on. A result below 60 is considered a sign of CKD.
Urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR):
This test checks the patient’s urine for two different substances.
Albumin – A vital protein in the blood that helps build muscle, repair tissue, and fight infection. It’s not usually present in urine.
Creatinine – A waste product that results from protein digestion and muscle tissue breakdown. This is removed from the body through the kidneys and is typically found in urine.
Healthy kidneys prevent albumin from entering the kidneys and urine. Hence, if any patient’s urine output consists of albumin, it’s considered a sign of renal damage, irrespective of their eGFR results.
It’s common practice to repeat this test to ensure accurate results. Decisions are seldom made based on the outcome of a single sample. Ideally, the uACR should be lower than 30, as a lower number is considered better.
Any physician can recommend these tests to their patients. In addition, patients can get these tests done annually or once every two years to track their renal health. The results collected from both tests will allow physicians to choose the correct line of action for the treatment.
While patients go for routine checkups, renal health checkups are rarely a part of their annual checkups despite being affordable. It’s important to consider these tests as preventive measures for CKD. This World Kidney Day, let’s take a pledge to understand renal health better and direct our focus towards the prevention of CKD. Connect with your doctor today! If you want to connect with experts at NephroPlus, click here.