A rose by any other name: is stage 3a chronic kidney disease really a disease?

Experts have questioned the clinical relevance of early stage 3 chronic kidney disease, particularly in elderly individuals and in those without albuminuria. A recent study published in PLoS Medicine provides further evidence that many older adults with stage 3a chronic kidney disease will never worsen, whereas some may even improve. Despite limited generalizability, the results support the current, more nuanced classification of chronic kidney disease for use in clinical practice and in future epidemiologic research.