Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsComplicationsEnd-Stage Renal DiseaseWhen to See a DoctorSummaryNext in Kidney Disease GuideHow Chronic Kidney Disease Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Complications
End-Stage Renal Disease
When to See a Doctor
Summary
Next in Kidney Disease Guide
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an umbrella term used to describe a longstanding disease or condition that causes the progressive loss of kidney (renal) function. Symptoms vary, depending on the stage, but can include fatigue, nausea, and foamy urine.
While there are many different causes of CKD—including diabetes, hypertension, infection, and autoimmune diseases—the symptoms will often be similar irrespective of the underlying condition. Over time, the progressive loss of kidney function can trigger a domino-like cascade of symptoms affecting the heart, lungs, brain, bones, and other organs.
The symptoms of CKD develop as the kidneys are less able to filter water and waste from the blood. The accumulation of these and other excretory substances (such as uric acid, calcium, and albumin) can throw off the normal balance of acids andelectrolytesin the body and interfere with circulation, blood pressure, digestion, respiration, and even brain activity.
Moreover, as the kidneys start to fail, they will stop producing a hormone callederythropoietin,which tells the body how to make erythrocytes (red blood cells). The depletion of these oxygen-carrying cells is referred to asanemia.
The impairment of kidney function can cause characteristic symptoms such as:
What are the stages of kidney disease?Stage 1: The kidneys are functioning but there may be some mild symptomsStage 2: The kidneys are still functioning, but there are additional symptomsStage 3: Kidney function has decreased and there may be more noticeable symptomsStage 4: Kidney function is very poorStage 5: Near or inkidney failure, and dialysis or a transplant may be required
What are the stages of kidney disease?
Stage 1: The kidneys are functioning but there may be some mild symptomsStage 2: The kidneys are still functioning, but there are additional symptomsStage 3: Kidney function has decreased and there may be more noticeable symptomsStage 4: Kidney function is very poorStage 5: Near or inkidney failure, and dialysis or a transplant may be required
AsCKDprogresses and your kidney function falls below 25% of its normal value, the range of symptoms will become severe.
As part of an interrelated system, the loss of kidney function will invariably affect all other organ systems. Without the means to filter blood and clear waste, even beneficial substances can accumulate to toxic levels, leading to such metabolic complications ashypercalcemia(excessive calcium),hyperkalemia(excessive potassium),hyperphosphatemia(excessive phosphate), and uremic toxicity (excessive uric acid).
The interrelationship between the kidneys and other organs makes for health concerns that often beget other health concerns.
For example, high blood pressure—a commoncause of CKD—can place persistent stress on the kidney, causing damage and the development of renal hypertension (high blood pressure of the kidneys).This, in turn, can further increase blood pressure and promote the development ofatherosclerosis(the hardening of the arteries) andcoronary artery disease.
The consequences of these metabolic imbalances can be far-ranging and severe. Among them:
The biggest concern arises when the kidneys start to shut down, a condition referred to asrenal failureor end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD requires that a patient getdialysisor akidney transplantto survive.
Without life-sustaining interventions, toxins can build up quickly, causing a condition called uremia.
Death usually follows within a few days to several weeks. If the decision is madenot to pursue dialysis,palliative careis needed to ensure that the individual is as comfortable as possible during his or her final days.
End-stage symptoms typically include:
Cardiac arrestis the most common cause of death in people with ESRD.Other possible causes include infection, sepsis, stroke, and hemorrhage.
The symptoms of CKD are often non-specific and generalized, meaning that they can be mistaken for any number of other illnesses. Because your kidneys are highly adaptable and able to compensate for lost function, the signs and symptoms may not be apparent until irreversible damage has occurred.
To this end, it is important to identify yourpersonal risk factorsand tosee a doctorif you experience any symptoms suggestive of CKD.
Untreated CKD may progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring dialysis or a transplant. Early detection and management are crucial, as symptoms are often non-specific and may resemble other illnesses.
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15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Levey AS, Coresh J, Balk E, et al.National Kidney Foundation practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(2):137-47. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-139-2-200307150-00013Penn Medicine.Nephrotic SyndromeNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is Kidney Failure?.American Kidney Fund.Stages of kidney disease(CKD)Judd E, Calhoun DA.Management of hypertension in CKD: beyond the guidelines. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2015;22(2):116-22. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2014.12.001Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Yulanda Antonius, Ahmad Affan Ali Murtadlo, Viol Dhea Kharisma, Putu Angga Wiradana, Sukma Sahadewa, Fara Disa Durry, Nikolai Maksimiuk, Maksim Rebezov, Rahadian Zainul,A review of cancer-related hypercalcemia: Pathophysiology, current treatments, and future directions.Journal of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research, 2024, 6(7), 944-952Joyce C. Hollander-Rodriguez and James F. Calvert.Hyperkalemia.American Family Physician.2006;73(2):283-290.Medicover Hospitals.Hyperphosphatemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment SolutionsUniversity of Florida Health.Renovascular hypertension.Stanciu S, Rusu E, Miricescu D, Radu AC, Axinia B, Vrabie AM, Ionescu R, Jinga M, Sirbu CA.Links between Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: The Relationship with the Current Antidiabetic Drugs. Metabolites. 2023 Jan 5;13(1):87. doi: 10.3390/metabo13010087. PMID: 36677012; PMCID: PMC9863091.Palmer BF.Sexual dysfunction in uremia. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999 Jun;10(6):1381-8. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V1061381. PMID: 10361878.Zemaitis MR, Foris LA, Katta S, et al.Uremia. [Updated 2024 Mar 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.Johns Hopkins.End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)Michael A. Steinman, Theodore I. Steinman,Clarithromycin-associated visual hallucinations in a patient with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Volume 27, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 143-146, ISSN 0272-6386, doi: 10.1016/S0272-6386(96)90043-8.Genovesi S, Porcu L, Luise MC, et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis. Blood Purif. 2017;44(1):77-88. doi:10.1159/000464347Additional ReadingBrown, S.; Tyrer, F.; Clarke, A. et al.Symptom burden in patients with chronic kidney disease not requiring renal replacement therapy.Clin Kidney J.2017;10(6):788-96. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx057.Genovesi, S.; Porcu, L.; Luise, M. et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis.Blood Purification.2017;44(1):77-88. DOI: 10/1159/000464347.Hertzberg, D.; Ryden, L.; Pickering, J. et al.Acute kidney injury—an overview of diagnostic methods and clinical management.Clin Kidney J.2017:10(3):323-31. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx003.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Levey AS, Coresh J, Balk E, et al.National Kidney Foundation practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(2):137-47. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-139-2-200307150-00013Penn Medicine.Nephrotic SyndromeNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is Kidney Failure?.American Kidney Fund.Stages of kidney disease(CKD)Judd E, Calhoun DA.Management of hypertension in CKD: beyond the guidelines. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2015;22(2):116-22. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2014.12.001Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Yulanda Antonius, Ahmad Affan Ali Murtadlo, Viol Dhea Kharisma, Putu Angga Wiradana, Sukma Sahadewa, Fara Disa Durry, Nikolai Maksimiuk, Maksim Rebezov, Rahadian Zainul,A review of cancer-related hypercalcemia: Pathophysiology, current treatments, and future directions.Journal of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research, 2024, 6(7), 944-952Joyce C. Hollander-Rodriguez and James F. Calvert.Hyperkalemia.American Family Physician.2006;73(2):283-290.Medicover Hospitals.Hyperphosphatemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment SolutionsUniversity of Florida Health.Renovascular hypertension.Stanciu S, Rusu E, Miricescu D, Radu AC, Axinia B, Vrabie AM, Ionescu R, Jinga M, Sirbu CA.Links between Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: The Relationship with the Current Antidiabetic Drugs. Metabolites. 2023 Jan 5;13(1):87. doi: 10.3390/metabo13010087. PMID: 36677012; PMCID: PMC9863091.Palmer BF.Sexual dysfunction in uremia. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999 Jun;10(6):1381-8. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V1061381. PMID: 10361878.Zemaitis MR, Foris LA, Katta S, et al.Uremia. [Updated 2024 Mar 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.Johns Hopkins.End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)Michael A. Steinman, Theodore I. Steinman,Clarithromycin-associated visual hallucinations in a patient with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Volume 27, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 143-146, ISSN 0272-6386, doi: 10.1016/S0272-6386(96)90043-8.Genovesi S, Porcu L, Luise MC, et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis. Blood Purif. 2017;44(1):77-88. doi:10.1159/000464347Additional ReadingBrown, S.; Tyrer, F.; Clarke, A. et al.Symptom burden in patients with chronic kidney disease not requiring renal replacement therapy.Clin Kidney J.2017;10(6):788-96. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx057.Genovesi, S.; Porcu, L.; Luise, M. et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis.Blood Purification.2017;44(1):77-88. DOI: 10/1159/000464347.Hertzberg, D.; Ryden, L.; Pickering, J. et al.Acute kidney injury—an overview of diagnostic methods and clinical management.Clin Kidney J.2017:10(3):323-31. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx003.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Levey AS, Coresh J, Balk E, et al.National Kidney Foundation practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(2):137-47. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-139-2-200307150-00013Penn Medicine.Nephrotic SyndromeNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is Kidney Failure?.American Kidney Fund.Stages of kidney disease(CKD)Judd E, Calhoun DA.Management of hypertension in CKD: beyond the guidelines. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2015;22(2):116-22. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2014.12.001Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Yulanda Antonius, Ahmad Affan Ali Murtadlo, Viol Dhea Kharisma, Putu Angga Wiradana, Sukma Sahadewa, Fara Disa Durry, Nikolai Maksimiuk, Maksim Rebezov, Rahadian Zainul,A review of cancer-related hypercalcemia: Pathophysiology, current treatments, and future directions.Journal of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research, 2024, 6(7), 944-952Joyce C. Hollander-Rodriguez and James F. Calvert.Hyperkalemia.American Family Physician.2006;73(2):283-290.Medicover Hospitals.Hyperphosphatemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment SolutionsUniversity of Florida Health.Renovascular hypertension.Stanciu S, Rusu E, Miricescu D, Radu AC, Axinia B, Vrabie AM, Ionescu R, Jinga M, Sirbu CA.Links between Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: The Relationship with the Current Antidiabetic Drugs. Metabolites. 2023 Jan 5;13(1):87. doi: 10.3390/metabo13010087. PMID: 36677012; PMCID: PMC9863091.Palmer BF.Sexual dysfunction in uremia. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999 Jun;10(6):1381-8. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V1061381. PMID: 10361878.Zemaitis MR, Foris LA, Katta S, et al.Uremia. [Updated 2024 Mar 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.Johns Hopkins.End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)Michael A. Steinman, Theodore I. Steinman,Clarithromycin-associated visual hallucinations in a patient with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Volume 27, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 143-146, ISSN 0272-6386, doi: 10.1016/S0272-6386(96)90043-8.Genovesi S, Porcu L, Luise MC, et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis. Blood Purif. 2017;44(1):77-88. doi:10.1159/000464347
Levey AS, Coresh J, Balk E, et al.National Kidney Foundation practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(2):137-47. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-139-2-200307150-00013
Penn Medicine.Nephrotic Syndrome
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is Kidney Failure?.
American Kidney Fund.Stages of kidney disease(CKD)
Judd E, Calhoun DA.Management of hypertension in CKD: beyond the guidelines. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2015;22(2):116-22. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2014.12.001
Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Yulanda Antonius, Ahmad Affan Ali Murtadlo, Viol Dhea Kharisma, Putu Angga Wiradana, Sukma Sahadewa, Fara Disa Durry, Nikolai Maksimiuk, Maksim Rebezov, Rahadian Zainul,A review of cancer-related hypercalcemia: Pathophysiology, current treatments, and future directions.Journal of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research, 2024, 6(7), 944-952
Joyce C. Hollander-Rodriguez and James F. Calvert.Hyperkalemia.American Family Physician.2006;73(2):283-290.
Medicover Hospitals.Hyperphosphatemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Solutions
University of Florida Health.Renovascular hypertension.
Stanciu S, Rusu E, Miricescu D, Radu AC, Axinia B, Vrabie AM, Ionescu R, Jinga M, Sirbu CA.Links between Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension: The Relationship with the Current Antidiabetic Drugs. Metabolites. 2023 Jan 5;13(1):87. doi: 10.3390/metabo13010087. PMID: 36677012; PMCID: PMC9863091.
Palmer BF.Sexual dysfunction in uremia. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999 Jun;10(6):1381-8. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V1061381. PMID: 10361878.
Zemaitis MR, Foris LA, Katta S, et al.Uremia. [Updated 2024 Mar 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.
Johns Hopkins.End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Michael A. Steinman, Theodore I. Steinman,
Clarithromycin-associated visual hallucinations in a patient with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Volume 27, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 143-146, ISSN 0272-6386, doi: 10.1016/S0272-6386(96)90043-8.
Genovesi S, Porcu L, Luise MC, et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis. Blood Purif. 2017;44(1):77-88. doi:10.1159/000464347
Brown, S.; Tyrer, F.; Clarke, A. et al.Symptom burden in patients with chronic kidney disease not requiring renal replacement therapy.Clin Kidney J.2017;10(6):788-96. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx057.Genovesi, S.; Porcu, L.; Luise, M. et al.Sudden Death in End Stage Renal Disease: Comparing Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis.Blood Purification.2017;44(1):77-88. DOI: 10/1159/000464347.Hertzberg, D.; Ryden, L.; Pickering, J. et al.Acute kidney injury—an overview of diagnostic methods and clinical management.Clin Kidney J.2017:10(3):323-31. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx003.
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