KDIGO is pleased to announce the publication of the report from the KDIGO Controversies Conference on Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Maintaining Kidney Health. The conference was co-chaired by Alberto Ortiz, MD (Spain), and Kathy Tuttle, MD (United States). The report, which is in press at Kidney International, captures the insights of a diverse group of experts and patient advocates focused on shifting the global response to kidney disease from treatment alone to prevention.
“CKD affects over 800 million people worldwide and is one of the major unsolved challenges in global health,” said Dr. Ortiz. “This conference underscored the urgent need for early identification, timely intervention, and greater attention to factors driving the risk of CKD. Especially in low- and middle-income countries, the burden of kidney disease is rising while access to care remains limited. We need structural changes tailored to local contexts that support proactive primary prevention in addition to earlier diagnosis and treatment of CKD. The timing of the publication is excellent, as this document provides a practical framework to achieve the goals of the recently approved World Health Organization WHO resolution on kidney disease.”
Conference participants discussed the wide range of CKD risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, infections, environmental toxins, low birth weight, and inequities in access to care. The report lays out a vision that integrates kidney health into the entire continuum of chronic disease prevention, starting from birth and continuing throughout life. The report also highlights major research gaps and calls for better tools to predict and prevent kidney damage, including biomarkers, risk equations, and digital health solutions.
To guide policy and practice, the report recommends more widespread evaluation of kidney health and system-level reforms that make preventive care more accessible. It also emphasizes the role of nutrition and physical activity for preserving kidney health while recognizing pharmacologic options.
“The data now show that kidney disease is not inevitable,” said Dr. Tuttle. “In many cases, it can be delayed—or even prevented—if we intervene early. We need to treat CKD prevention as a public health priority, like we’ve done for heart disease and diabetes. That means integrating kidney health into the entire continuum of chronic disease prevention and empowering both clinicians and patients through education and awareness.”
Download the conference report or read the report in Kidney International.