March is Kidney Month—a time to recognize a vital organ that filters toxins, supports whole-body health and connects with the entire human-body system.
Kidney disease affects more than 850 million people worldwide, yet it rarely exists on its own. Individuals at risk for kidney disease are often also at risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions. These interconnected conditions are now commonly referred to as cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) conditions. Despite this overlap, many health systems still treat them in silos.
A Connected Challenge
As of 2025, 11.5% of cardiovascular deaths were directly related to kidney dysfunction – highlighting that kidney health is inseparable from heart and metabolic health. Individuals with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or a family history of these conditions often face overlapping risks. CKM conditions also compound other health challenges, including iron deficiency and anemia, and mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. When stacked together, the burden of CKM conditions grows heavier – clinically, emotionally and financially.
A Rising Burden
Cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes are the world’s most prevalent and interconnected noncommunicable diseases. And noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs, as a whole currently represent 75% of deaths worldwide and are only projected to get worse as the population ages. The economic impact is huge: NCD’s are projected to cost the global economy $47 trillion from 2011 to 2030.
Living with one or more CKM conditions increases hospitalizations, worsens long-term outcomes and reduces productivity – placing avoidable pressure on already strained systems.
Prioritizing “Early is Better” Care
To reduce the burden of CKM conditions, health systems must adopt an “early is better” approach centered on integrated, proactive primary care.
Opportunities for early intervention include:
- Make risk-based CKM screening routine. Embed combined screening – blood pressure, HbA1c, lipids, eGFR and urine albumin-creatinine ration – into primary care, women’s health visits, pharmacies and community clinics, particularly for individuals with obesity, prior gestational diabetes, family history or social risk factors.
- Empower non-physician providers. Enable nurses, pharmacists and community health workers to screen, interpret basic results and initiate first-line interventions, and refer high-risk patients sooner.
- Stand up integrated CKM pathways. Replace siloed handoffs with shared CKM protocols across primary care, cardiology, nephrology, and endocrinology. Use interoperable records to trigger risk alerts and assign care coordinators.
- Raise awareness. Promote annual CKM check‑ups and provide accessible, multilingual tools to help patients understand and request the right tests.
This Kidney Month, the Global Patient Alliance for Kidney Health calls on policymakers, health care leaders and advocates to start choosing an “All of the Above” approach when addressing any CKM condition. Prioritizing early, coordinated care will not only improve patients’ lives but also reduce the financial, environmental and systemic burden of CKM conditions.
For more information, visit the Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Policy Forum page.