Understanding Kidney Health•Early detection

May early signs ba ang kidney disease? At anong tests ang dapat gawin?

Ang pinakaimportanteng fact: madalas walang sintomas ang early chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kaya hindi sapat ang paghihintay ng pananakit, pamamaga o pagbabago sa ihi. Ang blood at urine tests ang mas maaasahang paraan para malaman kung may problema sa kidney function o kidney damage.

NIDDK · NKF · KDIGO-alignedReviewed September 2026

Key message

Symptoms do not confirm kidney disease

Swelling, fatigue, foamy urine, nausea and changes in urination can happen in kidney disease—but they can also come from heart disease, liver disease, infection, medicines, dehydration, urinary problems and many other conditions. Doctors confirm or rule out kidney disease using objective blood and urine testing, not symptoms alone.

Early CKD can be silent

Bakit maraming tao ang walang nararamdaman?

The kidneys have substantial reserve capacity. A person can lose some kidney function without feeling an obvious change. This is why NIDDK and the National Kidney Foundation emphasize screening with blood and urine tests, especially for people at higher risk.

Symptoms become more common as kidney disease becomes more advanced. Waiting for symptoms can therefore mean missing the best opportunity for early detection and treatment.

Possible signs and symptoms

These are reasons to get assessed—not a checklist that diagnoses CKD.

Pamamaga

Swelling sa paa, bukung-bukong, legs, kamay o mukha can occur when the kidneys cannot handle salt/fluid well or when significant protein is leaking into the urine.

Pagbabago sa pag-ihi

Mas madalas o mas kaunti kaysa dati, especially if persistent. Urinary changes have many possible causes, so they are not diagnostic by themselves.

Foamy urine

Persistent foam can be associated with protein in the urine, but bubbles alone do not prove kidney disease. A urine albumin test is more useful.

Pagod o panghihina

Fatigue can happen in more advanced CKD and can also be related to anemia, sleep problems, infection and many other conditions.

Nausea, poor appetite o pagsusuka

These are more often seen as kidney disease becomes advanced and are very nonspecific.

Pangangati at muscle cramps

These may occur in advanced CKD but should not be used as an early screening test.

Hirap huminga

Can occur with fluid overload or anemia in advanced kidney disease, but it also has many heart and lung causes and may require urgent assessment.

The two most important screening tests

Ask about eGFR and urine ACR

Serum creatinine + eGFR

Creatinine is measured in blood and is used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)—how well the kidneys are filtering. An eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² can be a marker of CKD when it persists for at least 3 months. A single low result is not enough to label someone with chronic kidney disease because dehydration, acute illness, medicines and other factors can temporarily change kidney function.

Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)

UACR checks for albumin leaking into the urine and is one of the most important early markers of kidney damage. A UACR above 30 mg/g is considered abnormal and usually needs confirmation, because exercise, fever, infection and other temporary factors can affect the result. A first-morning urine sample is preferred when practical.

What numbers matter?

eGFR

Below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² can indicate CKD if it persists for at least 3 months. An eGFR of 60–89 is not automatically CKD; there must be another marker of kidney damage, such as persistent albuminuria or a structural abnormality.

UACR

Above 30 mg/g is considered abnormal. Doctors often repeat the urine test because albumin can temporarily increase with fever, infection, strenuous exercise or other short-term conditions.

Important distinction

One abnormal test is not always chronic kidney disease

CKD means kidney abnormalities that are present for more than 3 months. A temporary creatinine rise during dehydration, severe infection or another acute illness may be acute kidney injury instead. Likewise, a single abnormal urine albumin test often needs confirmation. Your clinician decides the repeat interval based on how abnormal the result is and what is happening clinically.

Other tests a doctor may add

These help look for the cause, severity or complications. Not everyone needs every test.

Urinalysis

Looks for blood, protein, white cells and other abnormalities that can point toward kidney or urinary-tract problems.

Blood pressure

High blood pressure is both a major cause and a possible consequence of CKD, so it belongs in the basic evaluation.

BUN and electrolytes

BUN, sodium, potassium and bicarbonate can help evaluate kidney function and complications, especially when kidney disease is suspected or already known.

CBC

A complete blood count can check for anemia, which may occur in more advanced CKD but also has many other causes.

Blood glucose / HbA1c

Diabetes is a major cause of CKD. Testing depends on whether diabetes is known or suspected.

Calcium, phosphorus and albumin

These may be checked when CKD is suspected or confirmed to look for complications and overall nutritional/mineral status.

Kidney ultrasound

Not a routine lab test, but imaging may be ordered when doctors need to look for obstruction, stones, cysts, abnormal kidney size or other structural problems.

Who should be tested even without symptoms?

Testing is especially important if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or a family history of kidney failure. These are established CKD risk groups. People with repeated abnormal urine findings, previous kidney problems, certain autoimmune diseases or recurrent urinary obstruction may also need evaluation based on their medical history.

Practical request to your doctor or clinic

Kung worried ka sa kidneys mo, ano ang puwedeng itanong?

✓Can I have a serum creatinine with eGFR?

✓Can I have a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), not just a routine dipstick?

✓Do I also need a complete urinalysis?

✓If something is abnormal, when should it be repeated?

✓Do my blood pressure, diabetes status or medicines increase my kidney risk?

✓Do I need kidney ultrasound or referral to a nephrologist?

When not to wait for routine testing

Seek prompt medical assessment if you have severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, fainting, very little or no urine, rapidly worsening swelling, persistent vomiting with dehydration, visible blood in the urine with significant symptoms, or you are acutely unwell. These can have causes other than kidney disease, but they should not be self-diagnosed at home.

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