A message from the
Kidney Health Manager
Hello reader,
Kidney Health Australia is focusing its message to health care professionals around early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care. Kidney Code Red: The Response was launched in March 2026 by Kidney Health Australia. The report identifies CKD as a major and growing public health issue in Australia. CKD affects 1 in 7 Australian adults, yet 2.5 million people remain unaware they have signs of kidney disease.
Because CKD is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, primary care is the critical point for early detection and intervention. The report is calling for change in three areas:
1. Increase awareness of kidney disease
2. Detect kidney disease earlier
3. Improve outcomes in kidney disease management
The Kidney Code Red report’s message is that earlier detection of CKD through routine, risk-based testing in primary care, is a great opportunity to slow disease progression, reduce complications, and prevent avoidable kidney failure. Informed by the recommendations of the Kidney Code Red report, the suggested reading, activities, and resources below have been developed to support primary care with practical, evidence-based tools that are relevant in day-to-day practice.
Roxanne Perry
Kidney Health Manager
Did you know?
Professional development
Diagnosing CKD in at risk populations - webinar recording
Discover how to detect and diagnose at risk populations for CKD through this recorded webinar. Gain 1 EA CPD hour.
WatchDiagnosing CKD in primary care QI Implementation activity
Complete this online activity to implement your learning from the diagnosing and detecting at risk populations webinar. Gain 3 CPD hours, 1 EA, 1 RP, and 1 MO category hours. This activity is accredited with RACGP, eligible CPD hours will be uploaded for RACGP members.
Go to activity
Extended reading:
Journal articles
AJGP – The hidden threat
Primary care-driven strategies for earlier chronic kidney disease detection in Australia
The Lancet Regional
Assessing patterns of chronic kidney disease care in Australian primary care: a retrospective cohort study of a national general practice data set
Read
Kidney Code Red - a mandate for urgent action to end the kidney crisis
Recommendation #1
1.1 Increase awareness of CKD in Australian community with a focus on three key messages
What do kidneys do?
What is CKD and why should you care?
Who is at risk of CKD and what action to take?
1.2 Increase awareness of CKD detection and management in the health professional community highlighting:
Burden of kidney disease and the opportunity to act.
Proactively look for CKD, identify who is at risk, test for CKD using the Kidney Health Check.
Do not miss the urine test (uACR).
