Cardiometabolic & kidneyCohort study
Underdiagnosis, treatment pattern and awareness of chronic kidney disease in cardiovascular disease population: results from a national observational study in China
- multicentre observational study
- conducted in 25 tertiary hospitals across China
Authors' conclusion
Alarmingly high proportion of underdiagnosed CKD, suboptimal guideline-directed treatment, and poor disease awareness of CKD in cardiology practice require urgent action. Closing these gaps is needed to reduce preventable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (two consecutive measurements separated by 90–730 days of eGFR 20–60 mL/min/1.73 m² or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥30 mg/g) with documented cardiology hospitalisation from 2022 to 2024participants (median age 74.0 years, 64.6% male)
- Participants
- 2,099 patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Underdiagnosis of CKD (lacked a CKD diagnostic code at discharge) · discharge
Underdiagnosed with CKD
76.7%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
UACR testing
- Participants who underwent UACR testing
- 16.7%
- All individuals with isolated albuminuria (UACR >30 mg/g) remained underdiagnosed
Factors associated with underdiagnosis
- Underdiagnosis more common in patients aged 60-75, those with early-stage CKD, hospital stays <6 days or without comorbidities
Guideline-directed treatment
- sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
- 36.5%
- renin-angiotensin system inhibitors
- 56.5%
- Patients who received guideline-directed treatment
- 32.2%
CKD awareness and risk-factor control
- Achieving guideline-recommended blood pressure and glycaemic targets
- <25%
- CKD awareness lagged behind hypertension and diabetes
Original publication
Underdiagnosis, treatment pattern and awareness of chronic kidney disease in cardiovascular disease population: results from a national observational study in China. Heart. Published 19 May 2026. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2025-327285
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it