What are the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease?

Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

When an individual's kidney fails to filter the blood properly and gets damaged, it is termed chronic kidney disease. Doctors recommend blood and urine tests to check the patient's eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) and uACR (albumin-to-creatinine ratio), respectively. This helps detect the severity of kidney damage, enabling healthcare providers to suggest the required treatment methods accordingly.

Read on to learn about chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages, its symptoms, causes and more.

What are the 5 Categories of Chronic Kidney Disease?

Depending on your eGFR value, CKD is classified into 5 stages. Here are they:

● Stage 1 CKD

During Stage 1 CKD, the eGFR is 90 or more, which shows that the kidneys are functioning normally with minor damage. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but some tests can detect kidney damage through the presence of protein in urine via a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) test.

The kidneys should be monitored regularly to assess their condition.

● Stage 2 CKD

Stage 2 CKD is characterized by an eGFR between 60 and 89, with mild kidney damage. Similar to Stage 1, individuals may not exhibit symptoms but could have protein in their urine or other indicators of kidney damage. Continued monitoring and lifestyle changes can help manage the condition.

● Stage 3 CKD

At this point, eGFR is between 30 and 59, which shows mild to moderate kidney damage. The kidneys start to have difficulty filtering waste, which can cause health problems such as high blood pressure and bone disease. Symptoms such as fatigue and swelling in the feet or hands might begin to develop. Stage 3 is also divided into two substages:

● Stage 3a: eGFR of 45 to 59
● Stage 3b: eGFR of 30 to 44

Most patients can avoid progression to advanced stages with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.

● Stage 4 CKD

In Stage 4 CKD, the eGFR ranges from 15 to 29, indicating moderate to severe damage to the kidneys. It is characterized by severe difficulty while filtering out waste, with elevated risks of developing complications like heart disease and bone disease.

The symptoms of stage 4 CKD are extreme swelling and lower back pain. This stage is crucial because it is a precursor to kidney failure. Hence, frequent nephrologist visits are essential in planning possible treatments such as dialysis or transplants.

● Stage 5 CKD

Stage 5 CKD represents severe kidney damage with an eGFR of under 15. Kidneys are approaching failure or have failed and cause a life-threatening accumulation of waste in the body at this stage. They may present with extreme fatigue, nausea, and swelling. Treatment options here are generally dialysis or a kidney transplant to treat life-threatening complications.

Apart from these 5 stages, there are three more stages based on the albumin-to-creatinine ratio of an individual's kidney. They are as follows:

● A1: Normal to Mildly Elevated Levels

During this phase, urine protein is below 30 mg/g or 3 mg/mmol, and the kidneys function normally with minimal damage. Some albumin is present, but the level is low and not usually symptomatic.

● A2: Moderately Increased Levels

In this case, protein content can vary between 30 to 300 mg/g or 3 to 30 mg/mmol. This indicates a detectable amount of elevated albumin, meaning greater kidney impact. The patients must discuss management options with their doctor to avoid additional damage to the kidneys.

● A3: Severely Increased Levels

In this phase, urine protein is more than 300 mg/g or 30 mg/mmol, indicating extreme kidney damage. An elevated albumin level raises the risk of developing kidney failure and heart disease. Urgent medical care is usually required to control health risks appropriately.

What are the Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease?

Some early symptoms of CKD are as follows:

● Shortness of breath
● Loss of appetite
● A frequent urge to urinate
● Weakness, tiredness, and low energy levels
● Swelling in ankles, feet, and hands
● Puffiness in eyes
● Itchy and dry skin
● Bubbly or foamy urine
● Sleeping and concentration issues
● Vomiting or nausea
● High blood pressure
● Skin darkening
● Cramps in the muscle
● Numbness

What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) arises when kidneys are damaged and are no longer able to filter blood properly. The primary causes are high blood pressure and diabetes, which affect kidney function over time. Other causes include:

● Glomerulonephritis: Injury to the filtering structures of the kidney
● Polycystic Kidney Disease: Genetic disease forming cysts in the kidneys
● Membranous Nephropathy: An autoimmune disease attacking kidney membranes
● Urinary Tract Obstructions: Enlarged prostate or tumours caused by kidney stones
● Vesicoureteral Reflux: Urine flowing backwards to the kidneys
● Nephrotic Syndrome: A group of signs that indicate renal damage
● Recurrent Kidney Infections, Like pyelonephritis
● Lupus and Other Autoimmune Disorders: Causes complications in the kidneys

These diseases can cause chronic damage to the kidneys if not treated properly. So, one should get the proper treatment upon being diagnosed with CKD. You can buy health insurance policies to cover the costs of CKD treatment. Providers like Star Health Insurance offer attractive plans to cover the expenses of chronic diseases, along with providing cashless treatment facilities in 14,000+ network hospitals across India.
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