Currently 100 million Europeans have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which will become the 5th cause of death globally by 2050 if no measures are taken. Most of those affected are undiagnosed and thus unaware of their disease. By the time of detection, kidney insufficiency is often far advanced. Whereas several problems may affect all people with CKD, the unmet needs in rare kidney diseases, which often impact children, are even higher.
Both common and rare kidney diseases are likely to impact other vital organ systems, particularly the heart and the brain, which affect the overall health, productivity and quality of life.
CKD is often called a ‘silent killer’ because the symptoms tend to go unnoticed while the diseases progress and cause irreversible organ dysfunction and deficiency. The awareness and attention to CKD is currently insufficient and disproportionate to its rising social, environmental and economic burden, making it a major public health threat. The impact of inequities should not be underestimated. Socially vulnerable people are at higher risk of developing chronic diseases, including CKD. Inadequate care can further enhance social disadvantages and poverty.
In most cases it is simple to detect early CKD for subsequent treatment. Despite the high prevalence and burden of CKD, systematic approaches for diagnosis and management are largely absent. As a consequence it becomes difficult to slow disease progression and reduce the need for dialysis and transplantation. Furthermore, CKD is not included in national and international health policies, as well as funding initiatives. Neither the WHO nor the European Commission currently recognize kidney diseases as a major public health threat.
This call for urgent and coordinated action is raised by patient representatives and international opinion leaders on kidney health. They convened in Brussels, Belgium on 26-27 January, 2025, to address the unmet needs across common and rare kidney diseases. The group came up with five recommendations on how to improve kidney health in Europe and globally:
- Implement broader screening programs to secure early detection of common and rare kidney diseases.
- Secure broad and timely access to quality care through equitable access to experts, medication and opportunity to participate in relevant clinical trials for CKD.
- Support transplantation through strengthened donation programs.
- Prioritize kidney health in healthcare strategies and plans, to the benefits of patients, their families and society.
- Promote awareness of CKD, incl. its impact on the quality of life, and its financial- and environmental consequences.
Addressing kidney health is a shared responsibility that requires strategic, patient-focused and collective action. The recommendations were presented at the European Kidney Forum, organized by the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) in the European Parliament on 28 January, 2025. The meeting convened patients, policy makers, nurses, physicians and other stakeholders to discuss the need for early screening of CKD at low cost.
It is simple and affordable to detect most cases of CKD at the early stages. Importantly, new therapies are now available to effectively treat CKD. What is needed now is coordinated political action, and dedicated plans to save kidneys and thereby save lives.
THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED IN DEVELOPING THE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS 
The meeting was funded by the German Selbshilfegruppe for Komplementerkrankungen, Novartis, Sobi, AstraZeneca & Alexion
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