If information is provided about smoking cessation, it will be important to consider medicines such as varenicline, which is renally excreted. 

Reducing salt intake to less than 6g per day will also help with fluid overload, but products such as LoSalt may be high in potassium and not suitable for patients with CKD. Dietary advice to increase fruit and vegetable portions need to consider potassium content and lower potassium varieties will be needed as CKD progresses. 

For CKD patients, an annual flu vaccine is recommended, as well as pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination. For those who may need renal replacement therapy, hepatitis B vaccination is recommended.

Practice point

• Identify a patient in your practice who has CKD. Think about its causes. Does the patient have any symptoms and what medicines are they taking?

Once you've completed this module, move onto:
Part four: Renal replacement therapy and transplant
But be sure to click next to complete this module first.