A large, nationwide population-based cohort study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology evaluated the association between undiagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD) and adverse clinical outcomes. Study design Participants: 640,217 adults Inclusion criteria: Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) laboratory criteria for CKD, defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² and/or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >30 mg/g on at least two occasions ≥3 months apart Study period: 2000 to 2023 Primary endpoint: Composite of all-cause mortality or kidney replacement therapy Key findings 359,805 participants (56%) who met laboratory criteria for CKD had no documented CKD diagnosis.

Undiagnosed patients were younger, more often female, and disproportionately represented among minoritized populations. Absence of a documented CKD diagnosis was associated with a shorter time…