Book Now

MORE THAN 50% OF PEOPLE OVER 75 YEARS OLD ARE LIVING WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

MORE THAN 50% OF PEOPLE OVER 75 YEARS OLD ARE LIVING WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

09/09/2025

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by a decline in kidney function lasting more than 3 months, often progressing silently over many months to many years and not fully reversible. If not controlled, CKD will gradually progress and can lead to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), at which point the patient is required to undergo hemodialysis or kidney transplantation to sustain life.

According to statistics from Johns Hopkins Public Health, approximately 10–16% of adults worldwide suffer from CKD. Among them, in the 20–39 age group, the rate is only about 4%, but it increases to over 50% in people over 75 years old.

Classification

CKD is classified into 5 stages based on the estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and the level of proteinuria:

  • Stage 1: eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min, with kidney lesion.

  • Stage 2: eGFR 60–89 ml/min.

  • Stage 3: eGFR 30–59 ml/min.

  • Stage 4: eGFR 15–29 ml/min.

  • Stage 5: eGFR < 15 ml/min (end-stage renal disease, requiring renal replacement therapy).

Common causes

The top three leading causes of progressive CKD are: 

  • Diabetic Nephropathy 

  • Hypertensive Nephropathy

  • Glomerulonephritis

In addition, CKD may develop in people without typical underlying disease.

03-7.png

Symptoms

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) initially has almost no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Signs usually only appear when the disease has progressed significantly, including:

  • Difficult-to-control hypertension 

  • Edema (face, hands, malleoli) 

  • Changes in urine characteristics (color, volume, frequency) 

  • Persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite 

  • Difficulty breathing, nausea due to toxin accumulation in the body.

05-8.png

Diagnosis and screening

  • Bloodwork: measure creatinine to calculate eGFR

  • Urine test: check for proteinuria

  • Regular blood pressure check

    • < 140/90 mmHg (normal individuals)

    • < 130/80 mmHg (individuals with CKD)

    • Ideally: 120/80 mmHg

02-7.png

Treatment and prevention

The goal of treatment is to slow disease progression and prevent end-stage renal disease:

  • Control underlying diseases: diabetes, hypertension

  • Lifestyle adjustments:

    • Quit smoking

    • Reduce salt, limit sodium-rich foods

    • Eat healthy, maintain a healthy weight

    • Limit alcohol

  • Regular kidney function monitoring

  • When the disease progresses to ESRD:

    • Hemodialysis

    • Kidney transplant

04-6.png

CKD is named the 'silent killer' because it progresses stealthily but causes serious consequences, with expensive treatment costs (estimated at hundreds of millions to billions of VND annually if dialysis is required). Early detection through regular check-ups, especially in high-risk individuals (diabetes, hypertension, people over 60), is key to long-term kidney health protection.

Reference:

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Hopkins Public Health
Raffles Medical Group
Johns Hopkins Medicine
NKF Singapore

--------------------

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL (AIH):
☎ Hotline: (028) 3910 9999
🌏 Website: www.aih.com.vn
📍Address: (Entrance from 199 Nguyen Hoang Street) No.6, Bac Nam 3 Street, Binh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh
  • by Admin AIH

Leave a comment

Latest News

Our Doctor

Professionals

Nguyen Ngoc Tien

Nguyen Ngoc Tien

Urology & Andrology

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien is a senior medical executive with over 35 years of experience in medical care...

Ngo Thanh Mai

Ngo Thanh Mai

Urology & Andrology

Dr. Ngo Thanh Mai has over 35 years of practicing in both public and private international hospitals...