Make the Link: Kidneys, Diabetes and Heart

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes and cardiovascular disease are each independently serious diseases, affecting millions of Australians. They each require careful management and place a large burden on the Australian health system, on individuals and on families.

For persons with existing diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease, developing chronic kidney disease causes a reduction in quality of life, on top of increased risks of complications, hospitalisations and death.

Our evidence report, Make the Link: Diabetes, Kidneys and Heart, demonstrates the importance of these links.

Key messages:

This evidence report adds to the existing literature:

• A central summary of the current key statistics and information regarding CKD, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  
• A detailed discussion of how comorbid CKD, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease interact and influence each other
• A more holistic view of the health burden associated with comorbid CKD, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in Australia
• Details on the current evidence concerning the impact of CKD, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and their comorbidity on mental health. Given the increasing health burden related to dementia in Australia, the implications of comorbid CKD, diabetes and cardiovascular disease for cognitive aging are of critical importance.