Each year, more than 500,000 Australians consult their doctors about kidney disease and urinary tract infections. One in three Australian adults is at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, and one in ten has some sign of chronic kidney disease. Show
What is kidney disease?Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that act as your body’s waste filtration system. They filter your blood 12 times per hour. Excess water and unwanted chemicals or waste in the blood are disposed of as urine (wee). Kidney disease is when your kidneys are damaged in some way and are not filtering your blood effectively. Symptoms of kidney diseaseKidney disease is called a ‘silent disease’ as there are often few or no symptoms. In fact, you can lose up to 90 per cent of your kidneys’ functionality before experiencing any symptoms. Some signs and symptoms include:
If your kidneys begin to fail, waste products and extra fluid build up in your blood. This, and other problems, gradually leads to:
Treatment for kidney diseaseIf detected early enough, the progress of kidney disease can be slowed and sometimes even prevented. In the early stages, changes to diet and medication can help to increase the life of your kidneys. If kidney function is reduced to less than 10 per cent of normal, the loss of function must be replaced by dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that removes waste products and extra water from the blood by filtering it through a special membrane (fine filter). Risk factors for kidney diseaseYou are more at risk of developing chronic kidney disease if you: High blood pressure and kidney diseaseHigh blood pressure (hypertension) is increased pressure inside the arteries that carry blood from your heart to all parts of your body. Untreated, high blood pressure can damage your kidneys. Also, high blood pressure can develop as a result of kidney disease or renal artery (narrowing of the main artery to one or both kidneys). Your kidneys control the amount of fluid in your blood vessels and produce a hormone called renin that helps to control blood pressure. Diabetes and kidney diseaseAbout 20 to 30 per cent of people with diabetes develop a type of kidney disease called diabetic nephropathy. This is a serious disease and may worsen other diabetic complications such as nerve and eye damage, as well as increasing the risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease. Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of kidney failure (also known as ‘end-stage kidney disease’ or ESKD). Kidney disease and cardiovascular risksCardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in people with chronic (ongoing) kidney disease. Compared to the general population, people with chronic kidney disease are two to three times more likely to have cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems such as:
This increased risk is partly caused by factors common to both chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure. However, researchers are discovering that chronic kidney disease is, in itself, an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, and a history of cardiovascular disease is a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease. The kidneys regulate water and salts, remove certain wastes and make various hormones. Kidney disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in many ways, including:
Diagnosis of kidney diseaseIf kidney disease is suspected, you will have some kidney function tests (also known as a kidney health check) to measure how well your kidneys are working and help plan your treatment. This includes:
An ultrasound or Computed Tomography scan (CT scan) to take a picture of your kidneys and urinary tract. These tests show the size of your kidneys, locate kidney stones or tumours and find any problems in the structure of your kidneys and urinary tract. You may also visit a kidney specialist (called a nephrologist) to help manage your care and decide if a kidney biopsy is needed. During a kidney biopsy a small piece of kidney tissue is removed and looked at under a microscope to find out the type of kidney disease and check if your kidneys are damaged. Urine tests for kidney diseaseDamaged or inflamed kidneys ‘leak’ substances such as blood or protein into the urine. The preferred test for detecting protein in the urine is a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (urine ACR) test, which shows the amount of albumin (a type of protein) in the urine. A urine ACR test should be done at least once a year if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, and every two years if you have any of the other identified risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease. A urine ACR test is performed by sending a sample of your urine to a laboratory for analysis. Blood tests for kidney diseaseThe best measure of kidney function is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which can be estimated from a blood test that checks the blood for creatinine (a waste product made by muscle tissue). A normal GFR result is higher than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2. If the result is persistently less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least three months, this confirms that you have chronic kidney disease. Blood tests can reveal other abnormalities of kidney function, such as:
Imaging tests for kidney diseaseTests that create various pictures or images may include:
A biopsy means that a small piece of tissue is taken for testing in a laboratory. Biopsies used in the investigation of kidney disease may include:
Your doctor may arrange other tests, depending on the suspected cause of your kidney disorder. Prevention of kidney diseaseMedication and changes to lifestyle, along with an early referral to a kidney specialist (nephrologist), can prevent or delay kidney failure. Heathy lifestyle choices to keep your kidneys functioning well include:
A range of medication is available for high blood pressure. Different blood pressure medications work in different ways, so it is not unusual for more than one type to be prescribed. The dose may change according to your needs. Where to get help |