Your Comprehensive Guide to Chronic Kidney Diseases

Your kidneys perform several important functions, such as removing waste and extra water from the body, balancing minerals, and more. But what happens when your kidneys don’t work as they should? It can cause chronic medical conditions.

Find out what are the chronic diseases of the kidney, types of chronic diseases, their symptoms, treatment, and insurance options.

What Are Chronic Diseases of the Kidney?

Chronic kidney diseases occur when your kidneys are unable to function properly for a long period. This loss of function happens over several years. Initially, you might not even notice any symptoms. However, with time, it can cause high blood pressure, fluid retention, swelling, etc.

Types of Chronic Diseases

Following are some of the major types of chronic diseases of the kidney –

• Chronic Glomerulonephritis – This condition causes inflammation and damage to the glomerulus (the filtering organ of the kidneys).
• Diabetic Nephropathy – It is the deterioration of kidney function due to high sugar levels in the blood.
• Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis – This is progressive kidney damage that occurs due to prolonged untreated hypertension.
• Polycystic Kidney Disease – It is an inherited disorder in which cysts develop in the kidneys, leading to loss of function.
• Nephritis – This is a condition where kidney tissue becomes inflamed, resulting in problems in filtering waste.

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Diseases

Depending on the severity and the type of chronic disease, signs and symptoms of kidney diseases can vary. However, some common ones include –

• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling in ankles and feet
• Itching and dryness in the skin
• Shortness of breath and chest pain if there is a fluid build-up around the lungs and heart

Causes of Chronic Kidney Diseases

The most common causes of chronic kidney diseases are –

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Heart diseases
• Old age (most common in the 60+ age group)
• Family history of chronic kidney diseases
• Acute kidney injury
• Smoking or eating tobacco

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Diseases

Chronic kidney diseases can be diagnosed by two simple tests –

• Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) – This is a blood test that checks how well your kidneys are removing waste from your blood. The higher your eGFR, the better it is.
• Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) – This test measures the ratio of albumin and creatinine in your urine. A lower ratio means better kidney health.

Treatment of chronic diseases of the kidney focuses on four key goals –

• Managing conditions causing kidney disease.
• Slowing down the damage to the kidney
• Lowering the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular issues
• Treating complications arising because of chronic kidney disease

Treatment of such chronic diseases depends on their progression and any accompanying health issues. It usually consists of –

• Medication – Your doctor might prescribe medicines to slow down or prevent the disease from getting worse.
• Nutrition – Depending on your test results, your doctor might ask you to limit your consumption of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, or calcium.
• Lifestyle Changes – Managing chronic conditions becomes easier when you quit smoking and tobacco use, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, stay in a healthy weight range, and reduce stress.

Health Insurance for Chronic Diseases

According to the National Institute of Health, the median cost for chronic disease patients on dialysis is ₹61,000, while it is approximately ₹2,15,000 for those on haemodialysis. A renal transplant costs approximately ₹4,00,000.

With medical expenses at such an all-time high, it is essential to get health insurance for chronic diseases. Health insurance for chronic diseases helps to –

• Cover the cost of hospitalisation, dialysis, and transplantation
• Fund treatments to manage other coexisting chronic diseases
• Finance regular monitoring and preventive care cost
• Access qualified, specialist care

Handling Health Insurance With Pre-Existing Chronic Diseases

If you have a pre-existing chronic disease, take care of these things when buying an insurance plan –

• Always disclose your pre-existing health conditions before buying the insurance. Hiding them can lead to claim rejection or policy cancellation
• Not all insurance plans cover pre-existing illnesses
• There could be a waiting period or a higher premium due to your pre-existing health condition

Waiting Period for Chronic Diseases

Most health insurance policies have a waiting period of 2 to 4 years for pre-existing diseases. It means you can’t claim your health insurance for that particular disease during that period. Some insurance providers offer options to waive this waiting period at an additional cost. 

Things to be Careful About While Choosing Health Insurance for Chronic Diseases

Here are some things you should be mindful of when choosing a health insurance policy

• Make sure you understand the coverage options and terms and conditions
• Know the percentage of medical costs you will have to bear
• Understand the caps and coverage limits
• Be aware of any initial waiting period
• Check the availability of 24/7 emergency support

Moreover, consider the following coverage options before choosing your insurance –

• Coverage for hospitalisation, pre and post-operation care
• Dialysis and kidney transplantation cover
• Coverage for ambulance services
• Cover for daycare treatments
• Organ donor expense coverage

Key Takeaways

Chronic kidney diseases can be scary and exhausting. However, with the support of your family, a good doctor, and the perfect health insurance, you can overcome all difficulties. Ask your doctor and insurance provider the right questions to battle your illness easily. Additionally, consider using platforms like PhonePe that offer unlimited convenience and a seamless insurance purchase experience.