What is the difference between chronic kidney disease and chronic renal disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Chronic Renal Disease (CRD) essentially refer to the same long-term condition, but there is a slight difference in how the terms are used.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the modern and medically preferred term. It describes a gradual loss of kidney function over months or years. CKD is classified into five stages, based on how well the kidneys filter waste (GFR levels). Doctors use this term today because it helps in early diagnosis, staging, and timely management.

Chronic Renal Disease (CRD) is an older or less commonly used term. “Renal” simply means kidney, so CRD also refers to long-standing kidney damage. However, this term is not used much in current clinical guidelines and does not clearly define disease stages the way CKD does.

Key difference in simple terms:

CKD: Updated, widely accepted medical term with clear staging and treatment guidelines

CRD: Older or general term, less specific and rarely used today

Why this matters for treatment

Using the CKD framework allows doctors to plan treatment early, slow disease progression, and manage complications like high blood pressure, anemia, and bone health. Many patients today benefit from a combination treatment approach—which may include medication, diet changes, lifestyle support, and in some cases complementary therapies—tailored to their CKD stage.

Platforms like MedicoExperts help patients connect with specialists who focus on stage-wise and combination-based kidney care, making it easier to understand options beyond just symptom control.