European CKD and cardiovascular disease management

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Renal Association (ERA) have introduced new clinical guidelines in the ‘European Heart Journal’ regarding the integrated management of cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

These guidelines highlight the interdependence of heart and kidney health, noting that CKD can accelerate cardiovascular issues and vice versa. To address the estimated 100 million people living with CKD in Europe, the recommendations advocate for earlier detection through systematic screening. Clinicians are encouraged to use the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) to improve risk stratification and enable timely interventions to reduce dialysis needs.

Efforts to intensify screening have gained focus, particularly as approximately 50% of heart failure patients also suffer from undetected CKD. In Germany, data from the NAKO study indicated that while 18.4% of adults showed abnormal values, only 5% were aware of their condition. The economic impact of CKD is also significant; in Germany, costs were estimated at over 24 billion euros in 2020, accounting for roughly 5% of total health expenditures.