1 in 3 Australian adults is at increased risk of CKD!

Today, one in seven Australians show at least one indicator of kidney damage. There are often no warning signs for kidney disease - you can lose up to 90% of kidney function before experiencing any symptoms or feeling sick – by then it’s too late. Early intervention can reduce CKD progression and cardiovascular risk by 50%, and improves quality of life.

Our KEY kidney health messages focus on the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and having a regular kidney and urinary health check, particularly for the 1 in 3 Australians who are ‘at increased risk’ of kidney disease.

What do the stages of CKD mean?

Early stages - small amount of kidney damage, although GFR may be normal

• Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease, blood tests can be normal.
• There may be scarring and blockages that change blood flow to parts of the kidney so they don't work as well as they should.
• There is an increased risk of heart disease. You doctor can help you reduce your risk of heart disease.

Middle stages - sometimes discovered because the level of waste product in the blood rises

• Some people begin to feel unwell and notice an increase in urine frequency.
• Blood pressure can rise as the kidneys slow down. High blood pressure further increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
• Early signs of bone disease may be present.
• Anaemia may appear, caused when there are not enough red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen around the body. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue and a shortness of breath.

Later stages - high blood pressure almost always occurs

• High blood pressure almost always occurs.
• You may start to notice changes in the amount of urine you pass.
• Lack of energy, increased tiredness and reduced appetite are common symptoms.
• You may need to make dietary changes, including limiting the use of salt or reducing the amount of potassium or phosphorus in your diet. 

End-stage kidney disease 

• The kidneys are only functioning at 10-15 per cent of their capacity and are unable to properly filter waste products, remove extra water from the body and help maintain the blood's chemical balance.
• This is the time to consider commencing dialysis or having a kidney transplant.

Kidney failure brings with it many changes. Adjusting to kidney failure is more difficult for some people than others, even with time to prepare for it. When there is no time to prepare, the sudden impact makes dealing with kidney failure much harder.  If recently diagnosed, we highly recommend our booklet Living with Kidney Failure and you may like to read Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Australian patient stories.

Kidney Evaluation for You (KEY) 

Kidney Health Australia’s chronic kidney disease (CKD) early detection and prevention program for the community. KEY aims to find early asymptomatic CKD in high risk individuals and refer them to a primary health care provider for appropriate long-term care.

KEY was the first primary heath care program for early detection of CKD to be established in Australia and the first in the world to use point-of-care machines to screen for kidney function. The use of point-of-care technology enabled participants to receive all their pathology results before the end of their visit. This unique aspect sets KEY apart from other screening programs.

Review article: Early detection of chronic kidney disease in Australia: Which way to go? 
Dr Timothy Mathew and Miss Olivia Corso
1 Kidney Health Australia, Medical Section, Kent Town, and 2 Kidney Health Australia, Health Services, Adelaide, South Australia

Kidney Health Australia received funding from BHP Billiton and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to conduct a 12-month pilot study. KEY was launched in February 2008 successfully recruited over 400 participants from three diverse Australian communities (Townsville, Roxby Downs, and Perth) for CKD.

The KEY Health Check - a free and comprehensive evaluation of:

• kidney function
• cardiovascular health
• diabetes risk

The KEY Health Check, conducted by registered nurses and health professionals, involves blood analysis, urinalysis and body measurements. Importantly all results are available on the spot to participants as the KEY point-of-care suite is set up in a sequential order, making pathology reporting efficient.

At risk KEY participants are also followed up three months after participation to track their progress. KEY participants receive a one-on-one consultation with a registered nurse where they are:

• educated on diet and lifestyle choices
• provided with preventative health information
• referred to a health professional for long term management if identified as being at risk

Updated 17 January 2010