Market scope note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is marked in the text with 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. to indicate which country it applies to.
Has your parent been complaining of constant fatigue, or have you noticed swollen ankles or a significant drop in urine output? These symptoms are easy to dismiss as "just getting older," but they can be early signs of chronic kidney disease (chronic renal disease). The kidneys are vital organs that filter waste products from the blood and regulate fluid balance, electrolytes, and blood pressure. The problem is that there are often no clear symptoms until kidney function has fallen to less than half its normal level, meaning that by the time symptoms are felt, the disease has frequently already progressed quite far.
🇰🇷 Korea According to the 2024 National Health Statistics, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease among all adults in Korea is 6.3%, rising sharply with age to reach approximately 25% in adults aged 70 and older. In other words, roughly one in four people over the age of seventy has chronic kidney disease. 🇰🇷 Korea According to 2024 National Census data, the number of patients with severe kidney disability requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is counted at 81,306. 🇺🇸 U.S. According to a CDC report (2023), chronic kidney disease affects approximately 34% of American adults aged 65 and older, and an estimated 37 million American adults in total are living with chronic kidney disease.
The leading causes of chronic kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes. Because both conditions are common chronic diseases among the parent generation, anyone already taking blood pressure or diabetes medication should also be keeping a close eye on kidney health. As kidney function declines, blood pressure rises, and elevated blood pressure in turn damages the kidneys further — a vicious cycle that repeats itself. In addition, anti-inflammatory pain relievers and herbal or folk-remedy preparations whose ingredients are not clearly known can be toxic to the kidneys, so these should only be taken after consulting a doctor or pharmacist.
As a family caregiver, there are specific signs to watch for carefully. Frequent fatigue or loss of appetite, swelling in the feet or ankles, unusually dark urine, itchy skin, and a noticeable decrease in urine output are the most representative warning signs. If you observe these changes, do not attribute them simply to aging — it is advisable to have a blood creatinine test and a urine protein (proteinuria) test done. Regular blood and urine testing is the most reliable method of early detection.
Dietary management is also important. 🇰🇷 Korea The Korean Society of Nephrology and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency recommend a low-sodium diet as the foundation of care for chronic kidney disease patients. Once kidney function has fallen to 30% or below, they advise reducing intake of high-potassium foods such as bananas, oranges, sweet potatoes, and vegetables, and adjusting protein intake under the guidance of a healthcare provider. This is because waste products from protein can accumulate in the blood and cause uremic symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and itching. However, dietary restrictions vary according to the stage of kidney function, so it is essential to consult the treating medical team to receive a diet plan tailored to the individual. 🇺🇸 U.S. Medicare Part B covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for patients with chronic kidney disease (non-dialysis) at 100% with no out-of-pocket cost — 3 hours in the first year and up to 2 hours per year thereafter. You can receive a referral from a physician to consult a Registered Dietitian (RD), and we encourage you to take full advantage of this benefit.
There are things families can do together to protect kidney health. The first step is to regularly record your parent's blood pressure and blood sugar levels and to help ensure that all medications prescribed by the doctor are taken without fail. Prepare meals with less salt, and wherever possible, encourage regular physical activity such as a gentle 30-minute walk each day. Staying well hydrated is also important, but if kidney function has declined significantly, fluid intake must also follow the healthcare team's guidelines.
Sources: Korean Society of Nephrology and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Chronic Kidney Disease Fact Sheet (released June 2026), Republic of Korea National Census 2024 data, Republic of Korea Policy Briefing chronic kidney disease prevention and management guidance, Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital health information, Severance Hospital health information, U.S. CDC Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States 2026, U.S. NIDDK Kidney Disease Statistics, National Kidney Foundation — Medicare MNT Coverage guidance, MedicareFAQ MNT coverage guidance.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.