[Diagnostic approach to chronic kidney disease]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Internal Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 7% of the global population, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality, particularly cardiovascular disease.
• Advanced CKD necessitates intensive and expensive treatments like dialysis or kidney transplantation, posing a burden on patients and healthcare systems.
• CKD often presents with subtle, non-specific symptoms, hindering early detection and timely management.

Framework:

• Diagnostic criteria for CKD involve renal morphological abnormalities, proteinuria exceeding 150 mg/g creatinine, or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 60 ml/min/1.73 m².
• Chronicity of renal damage is established when these abnormalities persist for longer than three months.
• This framework guides the systematic evaluation of suspected CKD cases.

Implementation:

• Utilizing an exemplary clinical case to illustrate the diagnostic pathway for suspected CKD.
• Detailed explanation of the step-by-step diagnostic process.
• Emphasis on integrating clinical findings with laboratory and imaging data.

Implications:

• Improved early identification of CKD patients, enabling prompt intervention.
• Potential reduction in CKD-related complications and healthcare costs.
• Enhanced understanding of CKD diagnostic criteria for clinicians and healthcare providers.