The CARI Guidelines – Caring for Australians with Renal Impairment Evaluation of Renal Function (July 2005) 5. Classification of chronic kidney disease based on evaluation of kidney function

• The diagnosis of kidney disease should be based on a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and/or the presence of kidney damage (manifested by persistent microalbuminuria, persistent proteinuria, persistent haematuria after exclusion of urological causes, or structural abnormalities on kidney imaging tests), irrespective of the underlying diagnosis. (Opinion) • A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires the presence of kidney damage and/or GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 for a period of at least 3 months. (Opinion) • Staging of CKD should be based on the measured or estimated GFR, irrespective of the underlying diagnosis. (Opinion) • The suffix 'P' should be applied to the corresponding CKD stage for all patients with at least moderate proteinuria (≥ 1 g/day) because of the increased risks of cardiovascular disease and CKD progression in this group. (Opinion) • The suffix 'T' should be applied to the corresponding CKD stage for all kidney transplant recipients at any level of GFR because of the increased risks of cardiovascular disease and CKD progression in this group. (Opinion) • The suffix 'D' should be applied to CKD stage 5 to denote patients receiving dialysis. (Opinion)