Kidney disease is among the leading causes of death in the Philippines, and the number of Filipinos who need dialysis keeps growing. The hard part is that chronic kidney disease (CKD) usually causes no symptoms in its early stages. Many patients only find out when their kidneys are already badly damaged. The good news: simple blood and urine tests can detect it early, and early treatment can slow it down considerably.
What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Your kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from your blood, help control blood pressure, keep your bones healthy, and help make red blood cells. In CKD, the kidneys are damaged or lose filtering ability, and this lasts for at least three months. The damage is usually gradual and, once lost, kidney function generally does not come back. That is why catching it early matters.
Who Is at Risk?
In the Philippines, the two biggest causes of CKD are:
- Diabetes: high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys over the years. See our guide on managing diabetes.
- High blood pressure: both a cause and a result of kidney damage. See our hypertension guide.
Other risk factors include:
- A family member with kidney disease or on dialysis
- Age over 60
- Overweight or obesity
- Heart disease
- Repeated kidney stones or urinary tract infections
- Long-term, frequent use of painkillers such as NSAIDs (for example ibuprofen or mefenamic acid) without a doctor's advice
- Taking unregistered herbal products or supplements that claim to "cleanse" the kidneys
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, ask your doctor to check your kidney function at least once a year, even if you feel well.
Warning Signs
Symptoms often appear only when kidney function is already low. Watch out for:
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, or around the eyes
- Foamy or bubbly urine, which can mean protein is leaking into the urine
- Urinating more often at night, or much less than usual
- Tiredness, weakness, or trouble concentrating
- Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
- Persistent itching
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle cramps
- Blood pressure that is hard to control
These signs can have other causes too, so they are a reason to get checked, not a diagnosis.
Go to the Emergency Room If…
- You pass very little or no urine
- You have severe shortness of breath or chest pain
- You feel confused, very drowsy, or have a seizure
- You have severe swelling together with difficulty breathing
- You are a kidney patient and feel your heartbeat becoming irregular or very weak
Understanding Your Kidney Tests
Two simple tests are used to check your kidneys:
- Serum creatinine (blood test): creatinine is a waste product that healthy kidneys remove. A higher level can mean the kidneys are not filtering well. Normal ranges depend on age, sex, and muscle mass, and labs report it in different units (mg/dL or µmol/L), so always compare your result with the reference range printed on your lab report.
- eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate): calculated from your creatinine, age, and sex. It estimates how much blood your kidneys filter per minute and is the main number used to stage CKD.
- Urine albumin or protein (urinalysis or urine ACR): protein in the urine is an early sign of kidney damage, often before eGFR drops.
Our guide to understanding lab results explains other common tests.
The Stages of CKD
| Stage | eGFR (mL/min/1.73m²) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90 or higher | Normal filtering, but signs of damage (e.g. protein in urine) |
| 2 | 60–89 | Mildly reduced function with signs of damage |
| 3a / 3b | 45–59 / 30–44 | Moderately reduced function |
| 4 | 15–29 | Severely reduced; time to plan for dialysis or transplant |
| 5 | Below 15 | Kidney failure |
A single abnormal result does not mean you have CKD. Your doctor will usually repeat the tests to confirm that the change has lasted three months or more.
How CKD Is Treated
There is usually no cure for CKD, but treatment can slow it down and prevent complications:
- Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar: the most important steps
- Kidney-protecting medicines: your doctor may prescribe certain blood pressure or diabetes medicines that also reduce strain on the kidneys
- Diet changes: usually less salt (patis, toyo, bagoong, instant noodles, canned and processed food), and in later stages adjusted protein, potassium, and phosphorus. Ask for advice tailored to your stage; do not cut whole food groups on your own.
- Reviewing all your medicines: some painkillers and supplements can worsen kidney function, and many medicine doses need to be adjusted
- Treating complications such as anemia, bone problems, and fluid build-up
Dialysis and Kidney Transplant
When the kidneys can no longer keep up (usually stage 5), there are three main options:
- Hemodialysis: a machine filters your blood, usually 2–3 times a week at a dialysis center
- Peritoneal dialysis: uses the lining of your abdomen as a filter and can be done at home
- Kidney transplant: a kidney from a living or deceased donor; centers such as the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) offer evaluation
Starting the conversation with a nephrologist early, in stage 4, gives you time to prepare, for example to have a fistula created for hemodialysis, and avoids emergency dialysis.
PhilHealth Support
PhilHealth has benefit packages for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplant, and has expanded its dialysis coverage in recent years. The number of covered sessions and the requirements can change, so confirm the current benefits with PhilHealth or with your dialysis center. Read more in our guide to PhilHealth-accredited doctors.
How to Protect Your Kidneys
- Keep your blood pressure and blood sugar within the targets your doctor sets
- Drink enough water, especially in hot weather, unless your doctor has told you to limit fluids
- Eat less salt and fewer processed foods
- Avoid taking painkillers every day without a doctor's advice
- Be careful with products that promise to "detox" or "cleanse" the kidneys
- Don't smoke, and stay active
- Get your creatinine and urine checked yearly if you have diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease
When to See a Nephrologist
A nephrologist is a kidney specialist. Your internist or family doctor may refer you if:
- Your eGFR is below 60 on repeated tests, or dropping quickly
- There is persistent protein or blood in your urine
- Your blood pressure stays high despite several medicines
- You have diabetes and your kidney tests are getting worse
- You need to plan for dialysis or a transplant
Find a nephrologist near you on MyDoktor.ph, or start with an internist for a first check-up.
This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician before making any healthcare decisions. In a medical emergency, call emergency services or go to the nearest hospital immediately.
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