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The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has issued its first guidelines dedicated to managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in partnership with the European Renal Association.
Published in the European Heart Journal and presented at ESC Congress 2026, the guidelines aim to improve early detection and treatment of CKD among patients with cardiovascular disease.
An estimated 100 million people in Europe have CKD, which significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications. The guidelines emphasise that heart and kidney disease can worsen each other, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events and kidney failure.
The recommendations introduce a strategy called “STAMP on CKD” — Screen, Triage, Address CKD Risk, Modify CVD management and Plan health services.
The ESC recommends screening all patients with CVD for CKD using blood and urine tests, including estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Patients should then be assessed for their risks of kidney failure and cardiovascular complications.
The guidelines call for early use of proven treatments, including RAS inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors and statin-based therapy, to slow kidney disease progression and reduce cardiovascular risks. They also provide guidance on adjusting cardiovascular medicines for patients with reduced kidney function.
The ESC further recommends closer cooperation between cardiologists and kidney specialists, particularly for high-risk patients. A patient-friendly version of the guidelines has also been developed to help people better understand their condition and participate in treatment decisions.
