Recognizing National Kidney Month
March is National Kidney Month—a time to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects an estimated 37 million Americans, and it is often referred to as a “silent disease” because there are usually no symptoms during its early stages. In fact, as many as 90% of Americans who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) don’t know they have it until it is very advanced. The kidneys play an important role in helping our bodies function properly. When the kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood as well as they should, it can cause excess fluid and waste to remain in the body. As a result, having CKD can also increase your risk of developing other health problems.
As an example, hyperkalemia (HK), also known as high potassium, is common in patients with CKD, and is when the blood has higher than normal potassium levels. Those living with CKD are at higher risk for HK because their kidneys can't remove excess potassium in their blood. A recent study reports that up to 40-50% of patients with CKD have HK.
Understanding Your Risk Factors and Kidney Numbers
(Credit: Adapted from the National Kidney Foundation)
The only way to confirm you have CKD is through specific blood and urine tests. One marker of kidney health and a critical part of managing CKD is knowing your eGFR, or estimated glomerular filtration rate, which is a measure of how well kidneys are filtering waste from the body. This test is included in routine blood work. As CKD gets worse, your eGFR number will go down. If your eGFR is less than 60 for three months or more, you are likely in stage 3 CKD. This means your kidneys may not be working well and it’s important to talk with your doctor about options to slow the progression of your CKD and how you can keep your kidneys as healthy as possible. Another important test to help confirm CKD is the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) test, which checks for high protein (albumin) in the urine. High urine albumin-to-creatinine-ratio is a sign of kidney damage.
Because CKD may be overlooked until symptoms appear at advanced stages, it is especially important to have ongoing discussions with your doctor about your risk factors. Risk factors of CKD include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, family history of kidney failure and obesity. In addition to managing your current condition, if you are living with one of these risk factors, it is also important to keep track of your blood work on a regular basis to see how your kidneys are functioning.
Slowing Progression and Talking to Your Doctor
The earlier CKD is identified and diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated—which is important if you have risk factors. Early intervention has been shown to slow disease progression, preserve kidney function, and reduce the risk of other conditions that are commonly associated with CKD.
For the past several decades, there have been limited treatments to delay the progression of CKD. With the recent evolution of modern therapies, treatments are now available to help slow kidney disease progression to delay end stage kidney disease (ESKD) and the need for a transplant or dialysis.
If you or a loved one have CKD risk factors, such as T2D and high blood pressure, it’s important to review your blood work results and talk with your doctor to understand your eGFR number and discuss the best treatment option for you.
There are resources available for doctors and patients to support those living with CKD. You may also consider using this discussion guide during your next doctor's visit. Through frequent and honest conversations with your healthcare team, you can feel empowered to take control of your kidney health.
Our Commitment to Advancing Therapies for Patients
Chronic diseases, such as CKD, have significant effects on our health and economic systems. Working to prevent CKD, or managing existing symptoms and conditions, may help reduce these impacts.
At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to understanding patients’ needs, while innovating clinically effective therapies, to better support patients and the CKD community at large. We are aware of the challenges patients face and are committed to advancing the science to ensure every person living with CKD and HK can live life to the fullest.