Breakthrough for kidney and heart treatments

Health experts warn that chronic kidney disease (CKD) can dramatically increase the risk of life-threatening heart problems.

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People living with CKD are far more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) - including heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease or arrhythmias - making early detection and treatment critical.

Adding to the complexity, chronic kidney disease and heart failure frequently occur with another comorbidity, type 2 diabetes, a triad of conditions health professionals increasingly describe as a "cardio-renal-metabolic" system, where dysfunction in one organ can trigger problems in the others.

"The metabolic system is closely interlinked with the heart and kidneys, and these organs rely on one another to maintain the body's balance," explains Ingrid Singels, Associate Director of Pharma Dynamics' Scientific Division. "The heart depends on the kidneys to regulate fluid balance, while the kidneys rely on the heart for proper blood flow."

Health experts are urging people to be aware of this heart-kidney-metabolic connection and to act early. CKD often shows no obvious symptoms at first and many people don't realise they have kidney problems until significant damage has occurred.