The first-ever European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the management of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease have been developed in collaboration with the European Renal Association. The new guidelines were published online in the European Heart Journal and presented at ESC Congress 2026 on Aug. 29.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as the presence of abnormalities of kidney structure or function for at least three months, with implications for health. It is estimated that around 100 million people in Europe have CKD, all of whom are at increased risk of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a result of their kidney disease.
"The disability and lifetime lost to each disease are profound, but CKD can accelerate CVD and vice versa, resulting in cardiovascular events and the need for dialysis much earlier in life," said Task Force Chair Associate Professor Kevin Damman from University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands.
"The good news is that there have been major advances over the last few years, which mean there are now several simple treatments that can substantially lower the risk of both cardiovascular and kidney complications."
Task Force Chair Professor William Herrington from the University of Oxford, UK, noted, "Many patients with CKD are treated by the cardiology community, and the new ESC Guidelines aim to increase the use of kidney function and urine albumin testing in patients with CVD. With improved screening, more at-risk patients can be identified, and the most appropriate treatments for both CKD and CVD can be prescribed."
