Latest Research News

Excess weight increases the risk of developing and worsening chronic kidney disease. This study explored whether low energy diets, with diet and exercise support are a safe, feasible, and effective way to help people with kidney disease lose weight and improve their health.

This was study run by Helen MacLaughlin and team at QUT and looked at low-energy diets for obesity and CKD and whether they can slow disease progression.

Funded by Kidney Health Australia research grant, 2021.

Authors: Perkovic V et al., for the FLOW Trial Committees and Investigators

The FLOW study was published in May this year and looked at the effects of a medication called semaglutide (commonly known as Ozempic) on kidney function and mortality in patients with both CKD and diabetes. It was found that this medication reduced the risk of major kidney disease events (such as onset of kidney failure) or death from kidney or cardiovascular related causes by 24% compared to placebo.

This is one of a number of new medications that are currently being studied for people with earlier stages of kidney disease.

Reference: N Engl J Med. 2024;391:109–21

Authors: Chadban S et al.

This global study looked at the projected economic burden of CKD at an individual patient level across 31 different countries. The simulation model projects that the global annual direct costs of diagnosed CKD and kidney failure would increase by 9.3% (from $US372.0 billion to $US406.7 billion) across the period 2022 – 2027. The model also projected that, by 2027, patients receiving KRT would comprise 5.3% of the diagnosed CKD population but would contribute 45.9% of the total costs.

This highlights the large burden that CKD has on populations worldwide and underpins the reasons why Kidney Health Australia is advocating strongly for investment in earlier detection and diagnosis of the disease together with improved management and support for people living with CKD.

Reference: EClinicalMedicine 2024;72:102615

Authors: Li K et al.

This Australian study investigated whether the kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) score is a useful tool for determining if people with CKD should be referred to specialist kidney care or should continue to be managed in primary care. They also looked at how the KFRE score aligns with nephrology referral guidelines produced by Kidney Health Australia. The research team found that 29% of patients referred to specialist services did not have a urine ACR measurement at referral. For those that did have a uACR measurement, they found that less people were referred using the KFRE score than with the KHA guidelines. There were pros and cons to each approach. The researchers concluded that adding the KFRE score to kidney referral guidelines may be particularly useful in regional and remote areas where CKD is often managed in primary care.

Kidney Health Australia produces guidelines and recommendations for managing CKD in primary care and these are contained within our CKD Management in Primary Care Handbook that is utilised broadly across Australia. We keenly review studies such as these to help us continually improve and refine our recommendations for detecting and managing CKD.

Reference: Intern Med J. 2024;54(7):1126–35

June 2024
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, contributing to approximately 20,000 deaths in 2021 in Australia. Importantly, progression of CKD can be substantially reduced if it is detected and treated early. Here we present the perspectives of a general practitioner (primary care physician), a nephrologist and a patient advocate on how the diagnosis and management of CKD in primary care could be improved. Early detection and treatment of CKD are impeded by limited patient awareness and knowledge, communication challenges between patients and doctors, and psychosocial issues, with these factors also interacting with, and exacerbating, each other.

February 2024
Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) continues to be a major problem in Australia despite new treatment options being available. This paper published in Endocrinology today discusses how early diagnosis together with medications form part of a holistic management plan for people with diabetes and CKD and not only improves health outcomes but also slows the progression of the disease.

February 2024
Chronic kidney disease associated with diabetes is the biggest cause of kidney failure in Australia. A new article published in medicine today and co-authored by Kidney Health Australia board chair, Professor Carol Pollock, discusses new medicines for people with diabetes that can also help protect the kidney.

5 December 2023
The advisory, published recently in Circulation, explores the links between CKD, CVD and diabetes and classifying a new ‘CKM’ syndrome.

5 December 2023
In a study, published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Edinburgh have shown that specialised eye scans using an imaging technology called optical coherence tomography (OCT) could be used to monitor kidney disease progression.

12 October 2023
Major kidney study ‘FLOW’ stopped 1 year early due to overwhelmingly positive results. The study is evaluating the affect of medication Semaglutide, commonly known as Ozempic, on the progression of kidney disease, results of the study are expected to be published early in 2024.

10 October 2023
The American Heart Association has identified a new medical condition that links heart disease to several other health conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes and obesity — offering new guidance in testing those as young as 30 for the chronic ailments.

27 October 2023
Kidney Health Australia supported Hansa biopharma in the registration process and also put in two submissions to MSAC to support the approval of the drug Imlifidase for use in Australia. It’s great to see the outcome of these new treatments!

Please note: this article is behind a paywall.