Importance of Early Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease: An Updated Review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an insidious progressive condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by gradual loss of kidney function and associated with high morbidity and mortality.Late diagnosis often leads to cardiovascular and metabolic complications and the need for renal replacement therapies, implicating high economic costs and deterioration in quality of life.The importance of early diagnosis lies in the opportunity to intervene in early stages, slowing disease progression through strict control of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and lifestyle habits.Furthermore, early detection allows implementation of non-pharmacological measures and use of renoprotective therapeutic strategies including renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and new agents such as SGLT2 inhibitors.Periodic monitoring of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria forms the basis of screening, especially in at-risk populations.Population studies demonstrate that early-stage interventions can reduce the risk of progression to advanced stages by up to 50% and decrease adverse complications such as cardiovascular disease.Thus, early diagnosis of CKD proves to be an essential strategy to optimize clinical outcomes, reduce costs and improve patient quality of life, reinforcing the need for public health policies that promote screening and educational programs.