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The hidden threat: Primary care–driven strategies for earlier chronic kidney disease detection in Australia
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The hidden threat: Primary care–driven strategies for earlier chronic kidney disease detection in Australia

Ralph Audehm, Karen Dwyer, Anita Muñoz, Roy Rasalam, Graeme Turner and Charlotte Hespe
Australian journal of general practice, Vol.55(3), pp.147-153
03/2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-03-25-7587
PMID: 41785497
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing and underdiagnosed public health challenge. General practitioners are central to early detection, yet missed opportunities persist. Evidence suggests up to 90% of stage 3 CKD remains unrecorded, despite simple, cost-effective screening and treatment that slows progression. With a projected 39% rise in the number of Australians with stage 3–5 CKD by 2034, immediate action is required. Objective: Three roundtable meetings were conducted across Australia with 35 primary care providers and kidney experts to identify barriers and supporting solutions to increase CKD detection and diagnosis. Discussion: Six themes were identified to improve early CKD detection: (1) education, audits and supportive technologies; (2) guideline harmonisation and a unified risk calculator; (3) automated pathology integrated into practice software, linked to the CKD management in primary care handbook and decision tools; (4) defined CKD codes reflecting staging and cause; (5) multidisciplinary communication and models of care; and (6) government policy and advocacy to raise public awareness.

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