HSE hopes to include chronic kidney disease in GP programme

The HSE is seeking additional funding to include chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the GP chronic disease management programme in 2025, it has confirmed.

The structured chronic disease treatment programme is for patients who have a medical card or GP visit card and have a diagnosis of one or more of a number of specified chronic diseases.

Some 15.6 per cent of people aged 50 and over have CKD, but most are unaware, according to research published last year by TILDA and the National Renal Office (NRO). The prevalence of CKD is also increasing.

The presence of CKD identifies individuals who are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, premature death, and potentially progression to dialysis or a kidney transplant. As such, preventing and managing CKD is “a key public health priority”.

The research noted that contemporary treatment strategies have emerged to reduce the risk of progressive worsening of kidney function and cardiovascular risk, such as the SGLT2 inhibitors, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid antagonists, and GLP-1 analogues.

Meanwhile, the HSE has stated that recommendations from a review of the NRO are still being considered in the context of health service structural changes.

The review was commissioned to examine the current and future work of the NRO.

At an Oireachtas briefing last year, Irish Kidney Association CEO Ms Carol Moore highlighted that the Office was under-resourced and there was no national model of care for CKD.

The NRO was established in 2009 before the initiation of the HSE clinical programmes. Its original remit was end-stage kidney disease. The Office requires support for work in other areas, including preventative nephrology.