Background
Early kidney disease usually causes no symptoms at all, which is why it is found through testing rather than through how someone feels. Two simple tests, a blood test for kidney function and a urine test for protein, do most of the work. Knowing which ones you have had, and when, is the most useful thing you can bring to an appointment.
Key points
- Early kidney disease is usually silent and found by testing.
- Blood pressure and blood sugar control protect kidney function.
- Ask which tests you have had and when they are due again.
What to look out for
- Diabetes or high blood pressure over several years
- A family history of kidney disease
- Regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers
- Swelling of the ankles, or foamy urine
- No kidney test in the past year despite risk factors
At a glance
What this means in practice
Kidney function and urine protein describe different things; one without the other is an incomplete picture.
A trend across years says more about kidney health than a single result.
Regular anti-inflammatory use is worth discussing, particularly alongside other risk factors.
Blood pressure control is among the most effective ways to protect kidney function.
Leaving the appointment with a date is what turns advice into follow-up.
Evidence summary
KDIGO guidance defines and stages chronic kidney disease using estimated GFR together with albuminuria, and recommends periodic testing for people with diabetes, hypertension or other risk factors, since early disease is typically asymptomatic.
References
- Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease.
- World Health Organization. Noncommunicable diseases country profiles.
- Perhimpunan Nefrologi Indonesia. Konsensus penatalaksanaan penyakit ginjal kronik.