Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease: The Role of the Laboratory

Chronic kidney disease is persistent kidney injury, usually with reduced kidney function. It may be progressive and it carries an independent risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is prevalent in about ten percent of western populations. Its definition relies on laboratory indices of kidney function. Its assessment in populations or individuals requires an understanding of the reliability of laboratory measurements and their conversion to numerical indices of kidney function.

Keywords: Glomerular filtration rate, epidemiology, chronic kidney disease