What is CKD? In the last 30 years or so, chronic kidney disease has become one of the major diseases that threaten public health worldwide. So, what is chronic kidney disease? Chronic kidney disease, abbreviated as CKD, is scientifically defined as kidney damage or abnormal function for more than 3 months due to various causes, including albuminuria, abnormal kidney histology, abnormal urine sediment, abnormal urine electrolytes, or decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), etc. What causes CKD? There are various diseases that cause chronic kidney disease, both primary and secondary. Common causes include glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial disease, renal vascular disease, hypertensive renal arteriosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, connective tissue disease, hereditary nephropathy, etc. In China, primary glomerulonephritis is the first cause of chronic kidney disease, but it is worth paying attention to the fact that chronic kidney disease caused by hypertensive renal arteriosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy has shown a significant increase, and this part of the population is precisely the high-risk group for cardiovascular events. Staging and treatment of CKD Chronic kidney disease is divided into 5 stages according to the glomerular filtration rate, and the disease gradually worsens from stage 1 to 5. Before stage 3, patients may have no symptoms or only mild discomfort such as increased nocturia, weakness and back pain. After stage 3, the symptoms tend to become obvious. When the disease progresses to the stage of renal failure, patients can develop acute heart failure, hyperkalemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, central nervous system disorders, and even life-threatening. The treatment of chronic kidney disease generally includes treatment of the primary disease, intervention of various risk factors and delaying the progression of renal insufficiency, and if the disease progresses to stage 5, renal replacement therapy such as dialysis should be performed in time.