[Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) by the Austrian Society of Nephrology].

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 800 million people worldwide, yet only about 6-10% of those affected are aware of their condition. Limited public awareness and insufficient structural measures in the healthcare system lead to the fact that CKD is frequently not diagnosed or diagnosed after a delay and therefore insufficiently treated. Current projections estimate that CKD could become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2040, if timely and effective measures to increase awareness and early detection are not implemented. This article presents practice-oriented guidelines for the screening, diagnostics and treatment of CKD in Austria. It outlines for which risk groups screening is recommended and describes how physicians can diagnose and treat CKD across all medical specialties. A key aspect of these guidelines is the presentation of pharmacological treatment options that slow disease progression, with specific indications and practical clinical recommendations for their use. Furthermore, the recommendations address nationally defined referral criteria to nephrology specialists in Austria and discusses possible CKD-related complications along with appropriate treatment strategies.