Risk Prediction for Chronic Kidney Disease: Considerations for Primary Care

Authors

  • Navdeep Tangri, MD, PhD Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Chronic Disease Innovation Centre, Seven Oaks General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cpct.2025.3142

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects more than one in ten Canadians and is largely managed in primary care. Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD, and primary care providers often manage the underlying causes and comorbid conditions related to kidney disease, as well as the adverse consequences of CKD itself.

It is important to recognize that CKD has a variable course. While most adults lose approximately 1 mL/min of kidney function every year after the age of 40, some patients lose kidney function rapidly, leading to hospitalizations due to heart failure and progression to kidney failure, whereas others remain stable for decades, requiring minimal additional intervention. Recent advances in risk prediction for CKD allows all providers to accurately identify high risk individuals. These innovations enable the use of highly effective therapies that slow down, and in many cases, normalize the rate of kidney function loss, leading to potential lifetime risk reduction for kidney failure. (Figure 1).

This review will cover key considerations in screening, risk stratification, and treatment of CKD in primary care, with an emphasis on tools that are readily available in clinical settings. We believe that a screen-triage-treat paradigm for CKD can lead to optimal outcomes for patients and health systems.

Author Biography

Navdeep Tangri, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Chronic Disease Innovation Centre, Seven Oaks General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Dr. Navdeep Tangri, MD, PhD, is working on a clinical research program that is also translational, focusing on the improvement of clinical decision making for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. He developed and validated the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) to predict the need for dialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease, and is currently engaged in multiple validation and implementation exercises to increase the uptake of the KFRE.

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Published

2025-06-05

How to Cite

1.
Tangri N. Risk Prediction for Chronic Kidney Disease: Considerations for Primary Care. Can Prim Care Today [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 5 [cited 2025 Jun. 7];3(1):34–38. Available from: https://canadianprimarycaretoday.com/article/view/3-1-Tangri

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