You should have a Kidney Health Check once a year if you:
Have diabetes
Have high blood pressure
Are First Nations Australian aged 18 years and over
You should have a Kidney Health Check every two years if you:
Are a current or past smoker/vaper
Are very overweight or obese
Had a stroke, heart attack or have heart failure
Have a family history of kidney failure, dialysis or kidney transplant
Have a history of acute kidney injury
Are over 60 years of age.
It is also important to note people who have none of the risk factors above may also develop kidney disease. You can take the risk test for kidney disease here.
Higher risk categories
There are two groups of people who have a higher risk of developing kidney disease:
- People with diabetes. When you have diabetes the high levels of sugar in your blood can damage your kidneys.
- People with high blood pressure. Kidney disease and high blood pressure are inherently linked. Frequent testing of your blood pressure is necessary to monitor if high pressures are affecting your kidneys.
What to do if you’re at risk
Identifying the risk factors that may affect you and your potential for developing kidney disease is the first and important step. From there, you can talk to a health practitioner and ask them for a regular Kidney Health Check.
By detecting kidney disease early, you can potentially improve your outcomes and delay the progression of your kidney disease.
Kidney Health 4 Life
Ready to take control of your kidney health? Check your risk and learn what to do next with Kidney Health 4 Life, your personal guide to early action.
Next steps: Now that you know if you are at risk, learn more about kidney disease or jump to another page to learn more about your kidneys.
Special Thanks! This educational website update is supported by a sponsorship provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Last updated: October 2025
