Nine in Ten People With Chronic Kidney Disease May Not Know They Have It
Chronic kidney disease can develop quietly for years while a person continues to feel healthy, yet serious damage may already be taking place. In the United States, health data show that as many as nine out of 10 adults living with chronic kidney disease do not know they have it. The figure is a powerful warning about the danger of waiting for symptoms before checking kidney health.
For Nigerians and Africans generally, the message is important even though the nine-in-ten statistic comes from U.S. data. Kidney disease is not always something that announces itself with pain or obvious illness. In its early stages, a person may have no noticeable symptoms. By the time symptoms become obvious, kidney function may already have been seriously reduced.
The kidneys perform several essential jobs. They filter waste from the blood, remove excess fluid, help regulate blood pressure, and contribute to the body’s production of red blood cells and maintenance of healthy bones. When kidney function gradually deteriorates, waste and excess fluid can build up in the body, and the condition can eventually progress to kidney failure, when dialysis or a transplant may become necessary.
One of the most important lessons is that people do not have to wait until they feel sick before checking their kidneys. Two routine investigations are particularly important. A blood test can be used to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate, commonly called eGFR, which provides an indication of how effectively the kidneys are filtering the blood. A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or uACR, can detect abnormal leakage of albumin into the urine, which may be an early sign of kidney damage.
This is where primary healthcare becomes particularly important. Family doctors, general practitioners and other primary-care professionals are often the first people to see patients with conditions that increase the risk of kidney disease. Regular screening can help identify kidney problems earlier, allowing doctors to monitor the condition, address its causes and refer patients to kidney specialists when necessary.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are among the major risk factors for chronic kidney disease. Other factors include obesity, cardiovascular disease, advancing age and a family history of kidney disease. This means that people living with diabetes or persistent high blood pressure should not assume that feeling well means their kidneys are healthy.
Protecting the kidneys also means controlling the conditions that damage them.
Keeping blood pressure and blood sugar under control, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, avoiding tobacco and discussing medicines with a healthcare professional can all form part of kidney protection. People should also avoid regularly taking medicines or supplements on their own without understanding whether they could affect kidney function.
The most important message is therefore simple: know your numbers before your kidneys become seriously damaged. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a family history of kidney failure or other risk factors, speak with a healthcare professional about whether kidney-function and urine tests are appropriate for you.
Kidney disease is not necessarily an immediate sentence to dialysis or transplantation. When detected early, there are measures that can help slow its progression and reduce complications.
The real danger is allowing a silent disease to remain invisible until the kidneys have lost much of their ability to function. For families across Nigeria and the wider Igbo community, greater awareness can save lives. A routine health check may reveal a problem that the body has not yet announced—and early knowledge can create an opportunity to act before the damage becomes much harder to reverse.
Public health note: This article is for health education and awareness. It does not replace consultation, testing, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Written by Obinwannem News Health Desk
Date: August 25, 2026
Ubochi: Orie Mmiri
Published by Mazi Ugwu Okechukwu (CEO/MD, Obinwannem LLC/FW)
