The first consequence of undetected CKD is the risk of developing progressive loss of kidney function that can lead to kidney failure (also called end-stage renal disease, ESRD) which means regular dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant is needed to survive.

The second consequence of CKD is that it increases the risk of premature death from associated cardiovascular disease (i.e. heart attacks and strokes). Individuals who appear to be healthy who are then found to have CKD have an increased risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease regardless of whether they ever develop kidney failure.

The prevalence of kidney disease is increasing dramatically and the cost of treating this growing epidemic represents an enormous burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Even in high income countries, the very high cost of long term dialysis for increasing numbers of people is a problem. In low and middle income countries long term dialysis is unaffordable. The best hope for reducing the human and economic costs of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease therefore lies in prevention and regular detection.

Kidney function is best measured by an indicator called GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) which measures the blood filtration rate by the kidneys. This indicator allows doctors to determine if the kidney function is normal and, if not, to what level the reduced kidney function has deteriorated. In everyday practice, GFR can easily be estimated (eGFR) from a measurement of the blood creatinine level and taking into account age, ethnicity and gender.