Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious condition with potentially life-threatening consequences if undetected and untreated.

This Ausmed Course equips learners with essential best practices for early detection and effective management of CKD, helping at-risk individuals and those already affected improve their quality of life.

Key information and graphics featured throughout this course were adapted with permission from Kidney Health Australia, according to their Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in Primary Care handbook (5th edition).

Registered nurses, enrolled nurses and other healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in managing the care of people with, or at risk of, chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a substantial health challenge in Australia - the number of patients needing treatment for kidney failure has doubled in the last 20 years, and 3 out of 4 Australian adults have at least 1 factor increasing their risk of CKD. The impact is even more pronounced among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, affecting 1 in 5 adults.

This alarming prevalence underscores the gravity of CKD, accounting for 12% of all deaths in Australia, and is associated with 33% of all cardiovascular deaths.

The progression of CKD to kidney failure can be slowed and/or prevented with early identification and effective management, however, fewer than 10% of people with CKD are aware that they have this condition.

Therefore, education addressing evidence-based best practices for accurate staging, effective management, and the tools for early detection of CKD is necessary for healthcare professionals to help combat the significant impact CKD currently has within the general population.

To empower healthcare professionals with a strengthened understanding of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and review the must-know aspects of CKD from a general perspective that we expect all health professionals, regardless of their specialty to know, in order to improve their practice and the outcomes of people who have and are at risk of CKD.