Together we can address the silent epidemic of chronic kidney disease - a blog by Nina Davies, Alice Pennock and Aamina Beebi

Hello, my name is Nina Davies and I’m a Clinical System Pathway Development Lead for Leeds Community Healthcare. 

I’m Alice Pennock, Advanced Pharmacist for the CaRe4Me Leeds project, Clinical Lead (Leeds Place) for the West Yorkshire Minuteful Kidney and Hypertension Project and Senior Pharmacist at Central North Leeds Primary Care Network. 

And I’m Aamina Beebi, Advanced Pharmacist for the CaRe4Me Leeds project and Lead Pharmacist at Burmantofts, Harehills and Richmond Hill Primary Care Network. 

Today, we want to talk to you about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). When was the last time you thought about your kidneys? For most people, the answer is probably 'never.' Yet, these two small organs are powerhouses that keep your body running smoothly. Our focused work in Leeds has shown just how vital it is to shine a light on this issue and allocate more resources to combat it effectively. 

Kidney disease is a silent epidemic. It demands our attention. Despite its severity, it often goes unnoticed until it's too late. Raising awareness is crucial to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The number of people at risk of kidney disease is increasing due to factors such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. The cost of treating kidney disease is substantial, both in terms of direct healthcare expenses and lost productivity due to time-consuming treatments like dialysis. 

What have we learned? 

• Inform: ensure people are aware of their diagnosis. Many are not aware they have kidney disease until it progresses to a severe stage. Early detection through regular check-ups and screenings is essential 
• Risk communication: effectively communicate the risks and benefits of managing CKD. Complications from CKD are preventable with appropriate management of medications such as statins, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and SGLT2 inhibitors 
• CKD is everyone’s business: there are gaps in knowledge about CKD, so it's important to expand valuable specialist knowledge beyond single disease models. Educating healthcare providers and the public can help bridge these gaps

Population health management tips

• Understand your population. Use local knowledge to tailor interventions and address gaps in care. Data-driven approaches can help identify at-risk groups and ensure they receive the necessary support 
• Allow time to develop effective practices, relationships, and processes. Building a robust healthcare system that can manage CKD effectively requires patience and persistence 
• What matters to me? Tailor conversations to individual choices and the impacts of CKD. Personalised care plans that consider a patient's lifestyle, preferences and specific health needs can improve outcomes
• Connecting practice: clinical drop-in sessions can optimise care, reduce the number of care journeys and create a lasting legacy of improved kidney health management

Enhancing CKD management for people in West Yorkshire remains a priority and while we have already made considerable progress, we are dedicated to advancing this work further. The findings from this work offer valuable evidence and insights that will guide our next steps as we strive to enhance care moving forward. 

"Together, by raising awareness and advocating for better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, we can address this silent epidemic and improve the lives of thousands of people."

For more information about CKD and the resources available, please visit our webpage: Diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease - Leeds GP Confederation