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Abstract: 

Despite affecting more than 35 million Americans, chronic kidney disease (CKD) often goes undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages—when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. Nursing scholar Eleanor Rivera explains that early-stage CKD typically causes no symptoms, leading many primary care providers to overlook or delay discussion of test results, especially for patients with multiple conditions. High blood pressure and diabetes remain the primary causes, but newer drugs like SGLT2 inhibitors can slow or prevent progression if prescribed early. Rivera calls for better patient education, routine testing, and communication tools that help patients understand their kidney function. Empowering at-risk individuals to ask informed questions, she argues, can dramatically reduce dialysis and transplant needs.

Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease; Early Detection; Patient Education; SGLT2 Inhibitors; Preventive Care

Affiliations:  1: University of Illinois Chicago.