New guidelines urge early screening to break heart-kidney disease cycle
The European Society of Cardiology issued its first guidelines for managing cardiovascular disease alongside chronic kidney disease, emphasizing simple blood and urine tests to identify at-risk patients earlier. These tests, combined with proven therapies, can substantially lower the risk of both cardiovascular and kidney complications. The recommendations aim to improve screening in cardiology practices to prevent serious outcomes.
The new guidance, jointly crafted with the European Renal Association, was unveiled at the 2026 ESC Congress and published in the European Heart Journal. It introduces a structured framework called 'STAMP on CKD' to guide clinicians through screening, risk triage, treatment adjustment, and health service planning.
Central to the recommendations is the routine use of estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio for all cardiovascular patients at diagnosis. The guidelines also highlight specific drug classes, including RAS inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and statins, while cautioning that reduced kidney function may necessitate altering standard cardiovascular prescriptions.
These guidelines could significantly reshape routine cardiology practice across Europe, potentially identifying millions of undiagnosed kidney issues earlier. By integrating simple blood and urine tests into standard cardiovascular care, healthcare systems may reduce the combined burden of heart failure and dialysis. Patients with existing heart conditions could benefit from a more holistic treatment approach, though implementation will likely depend on clinic resources and physician training. This proactive screening strategy may ultimately lower long-term healthcare costs and improve survival rates.