The term "kidney failure" does not denote an automatic death sentence. It simply means the kidneys are not functioning as they should and treatment is necessary. But as the disease progresses, patients do face causes of death from several different areas.
Chronic Kidney Disease
The term Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) refers to the five different stages of kidney disease. An individual with a diagnosis of CKD falls within one of these five stages of increasing severity. CKD progresses gradually, usually over the course of months and years.
Worsening Condition
The fifth stage of CKD, also known as endstage kidney disease or renal failure, is a near-complete shutdown of kidney function. At that point, the body is completely reliant upon dialysis to mechanically cleanse the kidneys of toxins and waste. A kidney transplant is an option for some patients.
Heart Disease
Half of all deaths among CKD patients are the result of cardiovascular disease, making it the number one cause of death. Risk factors for heart disease like diabetes and hypertension are far higher in CKD patients than in the general population. These, in turn, lead to conditions such as coronary artery disease.
Other Causes
Mortality rates are increased when a weakened body, struggling with damaged kidneys, is forced to face surgery or experiences other trauma like a severe infection. Old age, loss of blood in the intestinal tract, and progression of kidney failure increase the likelihood of death.
Prognosis
How long you can live with CKD depends on your age and other health problems. "Some people with early CKD never have kidney failure," say experts at the Medical Education Institute. "Others reach kidney failure and live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants."
