The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Renal Association have jointly developed the first guidelines for managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in conjunction with chronic kidney disease (CKD), published in the European Heart Journal and presented at ESC Congress 2026. CKD, diagnosed when kidney abnormalities persist for at least three months and impact health, affects an estimated 100 million people in Europe and significantly elevates the risk of CVD. The guidelines, encapsulated in the ‘STAMP on CKD’ acronym (Screen, Triage, Address CKD Risk, Modify CVD management, and Plan health services), aim to break the mutually exacerbating cycle between heart and kidney disease.

The guidelines emphasize early screening of CVD patients for CKD using blood and urine tests, including estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Triage involves assessing the likelihood of kidney failure and cardiovascular risk using validated scoring tools. Early intervention with proven, cost-effective therapies such as RAS inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors, alongside statin-based therapy, is recommended to slow CKD progression and reduce cardiovascular events. The guidelines also address the need to adjust CVD treatments for patients with reduced kidney function, which can affect drug clearance. Finally, the strategy underscores the importance of organizing healthcare services to ensure timely, multidisciplinary care and active communication between specialties, with a patient-focused approach to shared decision-making. Source

This is a summary. Read the original at sciencedaily.com.