The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) divided kidney disease into five stages. This helps doctors provide the best care, as each stage calls for different tests and treatments.
Doctors determine the stage of kidney disease using the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a math formula using a person’s age, gender, and their serum creatinine level (identified through a blood test). Creatinine, a waste product that comes from muscle activity, is a key indicator of kidney function. When kidneys are working well they remove creatinine from the blood; but as kidney function slows, blood levels of creatinine rise. Below are the stages of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Stage 1 with normal or high GFR (GFR > 90 mL/min)
A person with stage 1 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has kidney damage with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at a normal or high level greater than 90 ml/min. There are usually no symptoms to indicate the kidneys are damaged. Because kidneys do a good job even when they’re not functioning at 100 percent, most people will not know they have stage 1 CKD. If they do find out they’re in stage 1, it’s usually because they were being tested for another condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure (the two leading causes of kidney disease).
Stage 2 Mild CKD (GFR = 60-89 mL/min)
A person with stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has kidney damage with a mild decrease in their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 60-89 ml/min. There are usually no symptoms to indicate the kidneys are damaged. Because kidneys do a good job even when they’re not functioning at 100 percent, most people will not know they have stage 2 CKD. If they do find out they’re in stage 2, it’s usually because they were being tested for another condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure–the two leading causes of kidney disease.
Stage 3
- (A) Moderate CKD (GFR = 45-59 mL/min)
A person with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has moderate kidney damage. This stage is broken up into two: a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for Stage 3A is 45-59 mL/min and a decrease in GFR for Stage 3B is 30-44 mL/min. As kidney function declines waste products can build up in the blood causing a condition known as “uremia.” In stage 3 a person is more likely to develop complications of kidney disease such as high blood pressure, anemia (a shortage of red blood cells) and/or early bone disease.
- (B) Moderate CKD (GFR = 30-44 mL/min)
A person with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has moderate kidney damage. This stage is broken up into two: a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for Stage 3A is 45-59 mL/min and a decrease in GFR for Stage 3B is 30-44 mL/min. As kidney function declines waste products can build up in the blood causing a condition known as “uremia.” In stage 3 a person is more likely to develop complications of kidney disease such as high blood pressure, anemia (a shortage of red blood cells) and/or early bone disease.
Stage 4 Severe CKD (GFR = 15-29 mL/min)
A person with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has advanced kidney damage with a severe decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to 15-30 ml/min. It is likely someone with stage 4 CKD will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in the near future.
As kidney function declines, waste products build up in the blood causing a condition known as uremia. In stage 4, a person is likely to develop complications of kidney disease such as high blood pressure, anemia (a shortage of red blood cells), bone disease, heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
Stage 5 End Stage CKD (GFR <15 mL/min)
A person with stage 5 chronic kidney disease has end stage renal disease (ESRD) with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 15 ml/min or less. At this advanced stage of kidney disease, the kidneys have lost nearly all their ability to do their job effectively, and eventually dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to live.
Because the kidneys are no longer able to remove waste and fluids from the body, toxins build up in the blood, causing an overall ill feeling. Kidneys also have other functions they are no longer able to perform such as regulating blood pressure, producing the hormone that helps make red blood cells and activating vitamin D for healthy bones.
If you are diagnosed with stage 5 CKD, you will need to see a nephrologist immediately. This is a doctor who is trained in kidney disease, kidney dialysis and transplant. The doctor will help you decide which treatment is best for you