My kidney disease is chronic – so why did my GP not tell me?

I FOUND out that I had chronic kidney disease by chance when I was called to have a flu vaccine — I’m 64. The GP said that I was eligible for the jab due to my kidney problem — he called it CKD 3a — which had been picked up in routine blood tests a year before. I asked why I hadn’t been told earlier, to which he said he didn’t want to worry me. Is there anything I should be doing?

I IMAGINE there are many people who are unaware they have been labelled with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

It’s important to note that despite the alarming name, the condition is not always significant. It is often thought of by doctors as a risk factor for other health problems, rather than a disease in its own right.

However, your GP definitely should have told you about the diagnosis.

CKD is essentially a reduced ability to filter blood in the kidneys that tends to occur with age. We also see it alongside conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity. It is important to be aware of as CKD can worsen and lead to a greater chance of heart disease.

CKD 3a is the earliest stage and means someone has a consistently mild level of reduced kidney function. Stage 4 is severe while stage 5 indicates kidney failure.

Treatment for CKD 3a involves monitoring the kidneys to ensure things are not worsening, and regularly checking blood pressure to ensure other conditions are not damaging them.

This can be maintained through annual urine checks, monitoring for diabetes, treatment for any underlying high blood pressure and possibly offering a cholesterollowering statin due to the heart risk.

Healthy lifestyle advice applies, too: avoid smoking, eat a balanced diet, keep salt consumption low (less than 6g a day is recommended) and regular exercise.

Someone with CKD also has to be careful about the use of anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, and avoid protein supplements and herbal remedies – all of which may harm the kidneys.

Sufferers are in the higherrisk groups for flu and Covid, so keeping on top of vaccines is key.

MY 30-year-old daughter has always struggled with her mental health and has been on an antidepressant called citalopram since her late teens. She and her partner are talking about trying for a baby, and I’m concerned that being on an antidepressant might be dangerous for a developing child. What would your advice be?

TAKING medication is always about weighing up the risks and benefits, and this is especially true for pregnant women and those trying to conceive.

Before deciding to reduce or stop a treatment, you have to consider the effect on the woman’s overall health and how that might impact the pregnancy.

Citalopram is an antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and these can

be taken in pregnancy without any cause for concern.

Some studies have linked the use of these tablets with premature and low-birth weight babies, but doctors cannot say for certain whether this is truly from the pills or the mum’s circumstances.

It was thought that SSRIs taken during early pregnancy may cause heart problems in a developing foetus, but recent research has proven this to be false.

Most women who take an SSRI while carrying a child will have a normal pregnancy without issue.