The first-ever European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the management of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease have been developed in collaboration with the European Renal Association. The new guidelines were published online in the European Heart Journal and presented at ESC Congress 2026 on Aug. 29.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as the presence of abnormalities of kidney structure or function for at least three months, with implications for health. It is estimated that around 100 million people in Europe have CKD, all of whom are at increased risk of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a result of their kidney disease.

“The disability and lifetime lost to each disease are profound, but CKD can accelerate CVD and vice versa, resulting in cardiovascular events and the need for dialysis much earlier in life,” said Task Force Chair Associate Professor Kevin Damman from University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands.