What practice nurses need to know about the NICE chronic kidney disease guidelines

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in prevalence as the UK and world population ages (Bikbov et al, 2020). Good management of CKD can both slow down the progression of disease and reduce mortality in people affected. This article will describe what CKD is, its main causes, presenting signs and symptoms, as well as how it is diagnosed and classified. The management of CKD in primary care, based on the guidelines contained in the most recent update of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2021a), will also be reported.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a reduction in kidney function, or damage to kidney structure, which has persisted for greater than 3 months and which is associated with other health-related issues (NICE, 2021b). By its nature, CKD is incurable and progressive, and while it is amenable to treatment and management, it is associated with a high level of mortality (Swartling et al, 2021).