UPDATE: New research from Karolinska Institutet confirms that subtle abnormalities in kidney function can help identify individuals at risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). This urgent breakthrough, published in Kidney International, introduces a web-based tool designed to facilitate early detection and prevention.
Chronic kidney disease is an escalating global health crisis, impacting 10-15% of adults worldwide. If left unchecked, CKD is projected to rank among the top five causes of years of life lost by 2040. Alarmingly, many patients are diagnosed only after significant kidney function deterioration, often when over half of their kidney function is already compromised.
The study, involving over 1.1 million adults in Stockholm, Sweden, utilized nearly seven million eGFR tests collected from 2006 to 2021. These tests formed the basis for population-specific distributions of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the standard measure of kidney function. This innovative approach aims to assist healthcare providers in identifying at-risk individuals and taking preventive action.
“We drew inspiration from pediatric growth charts, which help clinicians pinpoint children at risk for obesity or underdevelopment,” explained Yuanhang Yang, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet.
The newly developed eGFR distribution charts are openly accessible to healthcare professionals, alongside a web-based calculator created by Antoine Creon, a Ph.D. student. This tool allows doctors to compare a patient’s eGFR with population norms based on their age and sex, enhancing risk assessment capabilities.
Crucially, the findings reveal that individuals with an eGFR below the 25th percentile face a significantly increased risk of requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Furthermore, mortality rates show a U-shaped relationship, where both low and high extremes of eGFR correlate with heightened death risk.
Despite the potential for early intervention, awareness gaps persist within the healthcare community. For example, among patients with a seemingly normal eGFR above 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 but below the 25th percentile, only one in four received further testing for urinary albumin—a key indicator of early kidney damage.
“As an illustration, consider a 55-year-old woman with an eGFR of 80. Most clinicians would overlook this normal value. However, our charts indicate that it falls within the 10th percentile for women her age, placing her at a three-fold higher risk of future dialysis,” noted Juan Jesús Carrero, professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet. “This highlights a vital opportunity for earlier intervention.”
This pioneering research not only provides a framework for recognizing kidney disease risk early but also emphasizes the urgent need for effective screening programs to combat chronic kidney disease globally. The implications for public health are profound, as timely intervention could significantly reduce the burden of CKD worldwide.
Stay tuned for further developments on this critical health issue as experts continue to advocate for proactive measures to protect kidney health.
