Mind the gap in kidney care: translating what we know into what we do

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• A significant delay exists in translating kidney disease research into clinical practice.
• Effective treatments are available to prevent or slow kidney disease, yet implementation lags.
• Many individuals with risk factors like hypertension and diabetes, or kidney disease itself, remain undiagnosed or undertreated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need to accelerate the adoption of evidence-based kidney disease treatments.
• To identify barriers preventing timely diagnosis and management of kidney disease.
• To advocate for maximizing early diagnosis and treatment opportunities, particularly at the primary care level.

Main Methods:

• This study is a review and synthesis of current knowledge on kidney disease treatment implementation.
• It analyzes systemic barriers across patient, clinician, health system, and societal levels.
• The focus is on identifying gaps between established guidelines and clinical practice.

Main Results:

• A substantial gap persists between kidney disease knowledge and its application in patient care.
• Diagnosis rates for hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease are low globally.
• Even diagnosed patients often do not receive optimal kidney disease management.

Conclusions:

• Urgent action is needed to reduce the 17-year average delay in implementing kidney disease treatments.
• Addressing multifaceted barriers is essential for improving early diagnosis and appropriate management.
• Sustainable solutions must be developed and implemented to preserve and enhance global kidney health.