Chronic Kidney Disease Follow-up

General Medicine

eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² ≥3 months or ACR ≥3 mg/mmol; staged 1–5.

History taking

  • • Onset, duration, progression, severity
  • • Aggravating / relieving factors
  • • Past history, drugs, allergies, comorbidities
  • • Family & social history relevant to presentation

Examination

  • • General: vitals, pallor, icterus, oedema, lymphadenopathy
  • • Focused system examination
  • • Look for red-flag findings

Red flags

  • • Haemodynamic instability
  • • Rapid deterioration
  • • Severe pain or new neurological deficit

Differential diagnosis

  • • See differentials section per chief complaint

Recommended investigations

  • • eGFR, ACR, U&E, bicarbonate, Ca, PO4, PTH (G3b+), Hb, vitamin D

Diagnosis

  • • Clinical diagnosis supported by targeted investigations

Initial treatment / management

  • • BP <130/80 (lower if proteinuric)
  • • ACEi/ARB if ACR >30
  • • SGLT2i (dapagliflozin 10 mg) reduces progression
  • • Statin

Follow-up advice

  • • Review in 2–4 weeks or earlier if worsening
  • • Monitor response to therapy and adverse effects

Patient counselling

  • • Avoid NSAIDs / nephrotoxins
  • • Sick-day rules
  • • Vaccinate (flu, pneumococcal, HBV)

Referral criteria

  • • Nephrology if eGFR <30, ACR >70, rapid decline, refractory HTN

References

  • • Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21e
  • • NICE / WHO guidelines (current edition)

Educational outpatient guide — verify against local guidelines before clinical use.

WardRound

WardRound

Clinical Decisions in Seconds