The presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Previously CKD was diagnosed based on a patient’s glomerular filtration rate (GFR); but proteinuria and microalbuminuria are also markers of increased cardiovascular risk.

NICE- UK- new guidance has acknowledged the significance of proteinuria, specifically the albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) in their updated classification of CKD. This classification is based on both GFR and ACR and not, as previously, on GFR alone.

The take-home message is: the more proteinuria a patient has for a particular GFR then the higher the CV risk.

Let me know if the latest classification is needed.

G Mohan.