EPO deficiency is appropriate term for the immediate cause of anemia in persons with chronic kidney disease. When one’s kidneys are damaged, they produce marked less EPO (erythropoietin), a hormone that communicates to bone marrow that it is time to produce red blood cells.

Claremont Graduate University

The rate of anemia increases in individuals with chronic kidney disease increases as the filtration of the kidneys slows. The rates of persons with chronic kidney disease who develop anemia is less than 10% in CKD stages 1 and 2, 20% to 40% in CKD stage 3, 50% to 60% in CKD stage 4, and more than 70% in CKD stage 5. 

Kidney Disease and Anemia

National Kidney Foundation. (2014). National kidney foundation's primer on kidney diseases. (S. J. Gilbert, D. E. Weiner, D. S. Gipson, M. A. Perazella, & M. Tonelli, Eds.) (6th ed., Ser. Expertconsult). Elsevier/Saunders.

National Kidney Foundation's Primer on Kidney Diseases

Individuals with CKD and anemia have symptoms that mostly mirror those of patients with anemia who do not have CKD- those being lethargy, decreased cognitive function, decreased libido, and a general decrease in a sense of well-being. However, persons with both anemia and CKD also have a lower general lifespan. This decreases markedly if the person in question also has one or more cardiovascular disabilities.

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