The Kidney Health Score: A Practical Guide to Early Detection of Kidney Disease Risk for Optimal Kidney Health

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the global population, with increasing prevalence driven by diabetes, hypertension, and aging populations. CKD often progresses asymptomatically, frequently undetected until advanced stages, and may require costly treatments, such as dialysis or transplantation. CKD imposes a substantial financial burden on health care systems, with management costs rising sharply as the disease progresses, underscoring the need for early, cost-effective interventions. The Kidney Health Score (KHS) was developed to assess six essential risk factors - blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood glucose (HbA1c), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Identifying these risk factors enables health care professionals to manage modifiable risks and improve CKD outcomes. This article provides evidence-based insights into the relevance of each factor to kidney health.