Chronic Kidney Disease is the gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys are a vital excretory organ that cleans the blood to extract waste products and fluids. When CKD progresses, the kidneys can no longer efficiently remove wastes from the body system leading to a dangerous accumulation of wastes in the blood. If unchecked, it can lead to serious health complications. 

It is referred to as “chronic” because it gradually reduces kidney function. CKD might cause the kidney to fail, which is otherwise referred to as end-stage kidney disease. Everyone with CKD will not experience kidney failure, but the disease will often degenerate without treatment. Although there’s no cure for chronic kidney disease, you can slow down the damage on your kidneys with treatments. 

According to the International Society of Nephrology, in 2023, the prevalence of CKD worldwide is 10.4% among men and 11.8% among women. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is experienced by 13.3 million people each year and may resolve or lead to CKD or kidney failure in the future. 

How Do the Kidneys Work? 

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs connected to each side of the spine. Their primary role is taking waste and excess fluids from the blood to create urine. They also participate in blood pressure, electrolyte balances, and the production of red blood cells. 

In women, kidney function is very vital during pregnancy and menopause because hormonal changes add to the pressure on the kidneys. CKD can thus be well handled if caught early when it has not reached critical levels. 

CKD Stages 

There are five CKD stages, starting with very mild stage 1, progress to stage 5: kidney failure. The healthcare provider will determine the stage of the kidney function through the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR is a number derived from the amount of creatinine, a waste product, circulating in the blood. 

CKD often goes unnoticed in many women until its advanced stage, which is why regular checkups and close monitoring of symptoms are highly needed. 

Most Common Causes of CKD:  

Several causes contribute to the formation of CKD. Among the most prevalent causes in women include the following: 

• High Blood Pressure: In the course of time, high blood pressure damages the blood vessels that carry blood to the kidneys. 

• Diabetes: This is one potential cause of CKD and can affect women who have experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy, increasing their risk of developing the condition later in life. 

• Autoimmune Diseases: While lupus and other autoimmune diseases affect more women than men, they will trigger CKD. 

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Recurrent UTI’s involving the kidneys can eventually lead to CKD 

Risk factors in females due to CKD:  

There are a few intrinsic risk factors for developing CKD, in particular among women: 
 

• Pregnancy Associated Disorders: Preeclampsia and other disorders associated with pregnancy are linked to a higher risk of kidney disease. 

• Family History: The risk of suffering from kidney disease is high if a woman has a family history of the disease. 

• Age: It tends to be more common with advancing age, particularly post-menopause, as well as due to hormonal changes. 

• Obesity: This has strong associated cases with Diabetes and Hypertension, which are risk factors in kidney complications 
   

Early Signs and Symptoms of CKD in women:  

Women generally develop very mild signs of CKD, making the disease hard to detect. The earliest symptoms include: 

• Fatigue 

• Swollen ankles, feet, or hands 

• Changes in urination 

• Severe itching 

• Not being able to focus 
  
  

Later Signs of CKD: 

The signs of CKD are generally worse with worsening disease, and severely affect the daily activities of the patient. These include the following: 

• Nausea and vomiting 

• Increased fatigue 

• Breathlessness 

• Chest pain 

• Muscle cramps 

• Anaemia 

For women, these signs tend to be advanced together with other health conditions, most notably menopause, and thus it will be difficult to diagnose with absolute accuracy. 

Complications due to CKD 

Chronic kidney disease is linked to several complications that affect health in general: 
 

• Cardiovascular Disease: CKD results in cardiovascular disease being one of the major causes of death and morbidity among women. 

• Osteoporosis: The imbalance of calcium and phosphorus due to CKD may result in weaker bones. 

• Fluid Overload: Failure of the kidneys to filter waste properly leads to fluid overload, causing swelling and breathing difficulties. 

• Kidney Failure: At the last stage of disease, the failure of the kidneys takes place. If untreated, the victim has to depend upon either dialysis or a kidney transplant. 

How is chronic kidney disease diagnosed?  

Early detection of chronic kidney disease is the only way to prevent its advancement. Most common tests that are done to diagnose CKD include blood and urine tests. These are: 

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): This test is used to determine how effectively your kidneys filter waste products in the blood. Reduced GFR is indicative of impaired kidney function. 

Urine Albumin Test: Tests urine for presence of a protein known as albumin, indicating kidney damage. 

Blood Creatinine Test: It’s a waste product produced and that stays in the blood if kidneys are unable to function. Therefore, suggested levels may thus imply CKD. 

Doctors can take ultrasounds, or any other imaging tests to study the size and formation of your kidneys to evaluate abnormalities or damage. A kidney biopsy might sometimes provide even greater detail. 

These diagnostic tools in combination with medical history and risk factors allow the healthcare providers to recognize CKD early on, therefore managing it better.