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*   Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in General Practice (book)
*   Summary card - CKD Management in General Practice
*   eGFR Calculator and online tools

Our Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in General Practice booklet is formally endorsed by RACGP, ANZSN and Kidney Health Australia. It provides a comprehensive summary of current guidelines and clincial tips to help identify, manage and refer CKD in general practice in Australia.

Other references to note supporting this booklet are:

• How to treat proteinuria
  Authors DJ Johnson & TM Mathew - Australian Doctor February 08
  
• eGFR estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (Know your number)
  
• The Management of CKD Reference List
  
• Type 2 Diabetes from the GPs perspective
  * Published by Kidney Health Australia 2007 in association with NEFRON - Thomas MC, Weekes AJ
  A collaborative effort of Baker Institute, Kidney Health Australia and Servier  
  
  • Supporting references to this booklet are:
    Management of diabetes in Indigenous Australians from primary care  
    The burden of chronic kidney disease in Australian patients with type 2 diabetes (NEFRON study) 
    The assessment of chronic kidney disease in Australian patients with type 2 diabetes (NEFRON-2) 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem in Australia and throughout the world. Based on data from the AusDiab study, it is estimated that about six million individuals have one or more of the major CKD risk factors and that about two million Australian adults have CKD.

GPs play a crucial role in CKD early detection and management. This article primarily focuses on when and how to screen for, and treat CKD.

The condition is often not associated with significant symptoms, is unrecognised in 80-90% of cases,and is becoming increasingly common due to an ageing population and a rising incidence of type 2 diabetes.

CKD progresses at a rate that requires about 2400 individuals each year in Australia to start either dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Moreover, the presence of CKD is one of the most potent known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such that individuals with CKD have a 2- to 3-fold greater risk of cardiac death than age and sexmatched controls without CKD.

According to death certificate data, CKD directly or indirectly contributes to the deaths of about 10% of Australians and is one of the few diseases in which mortality rates are worsening over time. However, timely identification and treatment of CKD can reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and CKD progression by up to 50%.

Supporting publications of interest are:
-   Screening for chronic kidney disease in Australia: a pilot study in the community and workplace 
-   Review article: Early detection of chronic kidney disease in Australia: Which way to go?     
-   Pfizer Health Report #29 - Blood Pressure September 2006  
-   Kidney Check Australia Taskforce (KCAT) Evidence Base   
-   Clinical effectiveness of different approaches to peritoneal dialysis catheter exit-site care