March 13, 2024
[Brussels, Belgium] – KDIGO is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), published today in Supplement to Kidney International. The Executive Summary will be published in the April 2024 issue of Kidney International. The guideline, an update to the KDIGO 2012 CKD Guideline, was co-chaired by Professor Adeera Levin, MD (Canada) and Paul Stevens, MB (United Kingdom).
The guideline is intended for healthcare professionals who provide kidney care, for people with suspected or diagnosed CKD and their caregivers, and for policymakers and commissioners of CKD services. The aim is to provide a useful resource that clearly and concisely addresses relevant questions with actionable recommendations to guide clinical practice based on a formal evidence review and consensus-based practice points. A wide range of key topics are addressed, including optimal CKD evaluation and classification, kidney disease risk assessment, management of complications, medication management and drug stewardship in CKD, and strategies for delivering patient-centered care across diverse clinical settings. Key highlights of the KDIGO CKD Guideline include guidance updates on the measurements of estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria, utilization of CKD risk prediction equations, and personalized treatment recommendations for kidney and cardiovascular risk reductions tailored to individual patient needs and preferences.
Treatment approaches and actionable guideline recommendations are based on systematic review of relevant studies and appraisal of the quality of the evidence and the strength of recommendations, following the “Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation” (GRADE) approach. The guideline also provides practice points, which serve to direct clinical care or activities, for which a systematic review was not conducted, and includes useful infographics. For the first time, the guideline sets forth, in a dedicated chapter, an important research agenda to address unanswered questions and a path for advancing the knowledge and evidence base in CKD.
“We are thrilled to publish this eagerly-anticipated update, which comes during a transformative period in nephrology, offering new hope for people living with kidney disease,” said Dr. Levin. “Recent advancements in GFR evaluation, risk prediction, and arrival of novel treatments are poised to enhance CKD prognosis and management. We also hope the guideline’s emphasis on multidisciplinary teamwork, patient engagement, and a holistic, evidence-based approach to care will help catalyze positive change resulting in more coordinated CKD care management worldwide. By integrating the latest evidence and expert consensus, we aim to empower healthcare professionals, and patients with actionable recommendations to optimize patient outcomes and enhance quality of life.”
“There is a clear and increasing recognition of CKD as a global public health problem,” said Dr. Stevens. “The inclusion of people with CKD in clinical trials has greatly improved, giving us an evidence base upon which to recommend care and treatments that had not previously existed. Increasingly sophisticated diagnostic tools and advances in technology make clear that we are witnessing a new era in nephrology. It is time to address the care gap in those with CKD who remain undiagnosed, untreated, and undermanaged and we hope that insights and guidance from this guideline will help opti
mize CKD care delivery and improve outcomes for people with CKD around the world.”
Dr. Stevens added, “As Co-Chairs, we would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Guideline Work Group and extend our thanks to the Evidence Review Team from Johns Hopkins, without whom this guideline would not have been possible. The Work Group was diverse, multinational, highly experienced, and exceptionally committed, and we are grateful for their contributions to both this guideline and to global nephrology.”
