CHRONIC kidney disease screening is now recommended for all patients with cardiovascular disease under new ESC Guidelines focused on improving the management of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
Chronic kidney disease is associated with an increased risk of a broad range of cardiovascular conditions, creating a complex bidirectional relationship between the two diseases.
According to the guidance, chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 100 million people across Europe and can accelerate the progression of cardiovascular disease, increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular events and the need for dialysis earlier in life.
The recommendations were developed to support earlier recognition of chronic kidney disease and ensure that more patients at risk receive effective therapies that can reduce both cardiovascular and kidney complications.
A central recommendation is the routine screening of all patients with cardiovascular disease for chronic kidney disease at diagnosis.
The guidance states that screening should include assessment of estimated glomerular filtration rate using blood creatinine testing alongside measurement of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio.
The guidance also introduces the acronym STAMP on CKD, which stands for “Screen, Triage, Address CKD Risk, Modify CVD Management, and Plan Health Services”.
Within this framework, accurate evaluation of kidney failure risk and cardiovascular risk is expected to be prioritised through validated risk assessment tools that incorporate kidney function.
The aim is to identify chronic kidney disease earlier and improve access to interventions before substantial disease progression occurs.
The new ESC guidelines emphasise the early use of evidence-based treatments shown to slow chronic kidney disease progression and reduce cardiovascular risk.
These include renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and statin-based therapies.
Management of cardiovascular disease may also require modification in patients with chronic kidney disease, according to the guidance, particularly where reduced kidney function affects the body’s ability to clear certain medications.
The recommendations therefore outline considerations for selecting appropriate treatments in this population.
In addition, the guidance highlights the importance of coordinated care between cardiology and nephrology services.
Timely identification of high-risk patients, strong communication between specialties, and involvement of patients and caregivers in decision-making are all identified as important components of effective care delivery.
The guideline’s authors concluded that greater awareness, earlier detection, and wider implementation of effective treatments could help reduce the substantial burden associated with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease for both patients and healthcare systems.
2026 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Eur Heart J. 2026;DOI:10.1093/eurheartj/ehag098.
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