Non-communicable · Medium priority
Chronic kidney disease
Core disease facts with the linked government programme, prevention and treatment or cure reality.
TypeNon-infectious chronic loss of kidney structure or function lasting more than three months.
Government programmes, schemes and services
- Programme: National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): Prevents and detects major kidney-disease risks by screening and treating diabetes and hypertension and linking suspected kidney disease to further care.
- Programme: Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme: Expands haemodialysis and peritoneal-dialysis access through district-level services and provides free dialysis for eligible poor patients.
- Odisha initiative: SAHAY free dialysis services: Supports haemodialysis access in Odisha public facilities; dialysis replaces lost kidney function but does not cure chronic kidney disease.
Prevention
- Prevent: Control diabetes/blood pressure, avoid nephrotoxins, screen high-risk people using estimated filtration and urine albumin
Treatment and cure reality
- Treat: Early progression can be slowed; dialysis is replacement therapy, not a cure. Kidney transplant offers best replacement for suitable patients but requires lifelong follow-up.
Must remember
- Definition concept: Kidney-structure/function abnormality persisting for more than 3 months.
- Major causes: Diabetes and hypertension.
- Early disease: Often asymptomatic; serum creatinine alone must be interpreted with estimated glomerular filtration rate.
- Screening in risk groups: Blood pressure, serum creatinine/estimated glomerular filtration rate, and urine albumin.
- Urgent dialysis indications memory: Refractory acidosis, dangerous electrolyte abnormality (especially hyperkalaemia), selected intoxications, fluid overload, and uraemic complications.
- Programme: Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme was launched in 2016–17 to expand dialysis services at district hospitals.