Chronic renal insufficiency is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. If left untreated, chronic renal insufficiency leads to renal failure. A report by the United States Renal Data System states that more than 100,000 people began treatment for renal failure in 2009. For every 10 new cases of renal failure, seven had diabetes or hypertension listed as the primary cause.
Diabetes
Chronic renal insufficiency is also known as chronic kidney disease or renal disease. The most common cause of chronic renal insufficiency is diabetes. Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by persistently elevated levels of blood glucose, or sugar. High blood sugar causes problems in many parts of the body, including the kidneys. The kidneys contain countless small blood vessels and filtering units, which become damaged as a result of high sugar levels, causing chronic renal insufficiency.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 23.6 million people or 7.8 percent of the United States population have diabetes. The global increase in diabetes is causing an increase in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. The National Kidney Foundation points out that diabetes accounts for 45 percent of kidney failure, up from 18 percent in 1980.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is the second largest cause of chronic renal insufficiency; it affects up to 50 million people in the United States. Persistently high blood pressure damages the kidneys. This damage may lead to chronic renal insufficiency and eventually kidney failure. High blood pressure can reduce blood supply to the kidneys. It also damages the many blood vessels and filtering units in the kidneys. This can prevent the kidneys from removing waste products and extra fluids from the blood. Extra fluid in blood vessels can build up and raise blood pressure even more.
Other Causes
Polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited kidney disease. It causes cyst formation in the kidneys. If the cysts are numerous and large enough, they may prevent the kidneys from carrying out their normal functions. Fluid and waste buildup can then cause chronic renal insufficiency.
Glomerulonephritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the kidney's filtering units, called the glomeruli. Damaged glomeruli cause the kidneys to malfunction, resulting in a buildup of fluids and wastes in the blood. Untreated glomerulonephritis leads to chronic renal insufficiency and eventually kidney failure. Glomerulonephritis may happen suddenly or develop slowly over many years.
Kidney stones can also lead to chronic renal insufficiency. When kidney stones become too numerous and too big, they can interfere with normal kidney functions, causing chronic renal insufficiency. Having one kidney stone puts a patient at a 50 percent increased risk of having another within five to seven years. Treatment of kidney stones is essential to preventing chronic renal insufficiency.
Urinary infections, if long lasting, can lead to chronic renal insufficiency. Urinary infections mostly affect the bladder but can also spread to the kidneys. If the glomeruli in the kidneys become infected, they can no longer eliminate excess fluid and waste at the rate that is necessary to keep the body healthy. Urinary infections if treated successfully can prevent chronic renal insufficiency.
References
- National Vital Statistics Report (CDC) Deaths: Final Data for 2005
- United States Renal Data System 2009 Annual Data Report.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007
- National Kidney Foundation, Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Practice Recommendations for Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease 2007
- Annals of Internal Medicine: 50 million people in the US have high blood pressure
