Via practica 4/2010

Definition, evaluation, and classification of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is considered a rare disease without screening program targeting population at increased risk. Large clinical trials and medical practice suggest that early diagnosis and proper monitoring of patients with chronic kidney disease can delay or even prevent disease progression to renal insufficiency. Identification of patients in the early stages of chronic renal disease should be a priority, especially for doctors of first contact e. g. general practitioners, family doctors. At risk are particularly individuals with a family history of kidney disease and individuals with hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Very effective is also screening of all individuals over 60 years, although other risk factors for kidney disease are not present.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria, screening