Cardio-Renal What? Time to Speak the Same Language

Send us a text

The For Kidneys Sake podcast series is brought to you by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and North West London Integrated Care Board (NWL NHS).

In this special introductory episode of For Kidneys’ Sake, nephrologists Prof Jeremy Levy and Dr Andrew Frankel open a new series on Cardio-Renal Metabolic (CRM) disease, a complex syndrome where kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction intertwine. With obesity, diabetes, and hypertension on the rise, CRM is becoming a leading cause of kidney disease and an urgent challenge for integrated care delivery.

The conversation touches on how albuminuria and declining GFR are early signs of vascular damage, even in asymptomatic patients, and why abdominal fat is now viewed as metabolically active tissue that contributes to systemic inflammation. Jeremy and Andrew call for a shift from specialist-led care to a patient-focused model that unifies treatment strategies across kidney, heart, and metabolic health. This episode sets the stage for an enlightening series aimed at primary care clinicians and healthcare teams working with complex, multimorbid patients.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Cardio-Renal Metabolic (CRM) disease represents a unified condition, not just overlapping risk factors. 

2. Obesity-driven inflammation is a major contributor to both CKD and cardiovascular damage. 

3. Albuminuria and mild GFR decline often signal early systemic disease — even without symptoms. 

4. Healthcare must shift from fragmented, specialty-based care to integrated, patient-centric pathways. 5. Early intervention, education, and service redesign are key to managing CRM effectively.

Resource Links:
NICE GUIDELINES [NG203] chronic kidney disease: assessment and management Overview | Chronic kidney disease: assessment and management | Guidance | NICE

Northwest London CKD guidelines for primary care Chronic kidney disease (nwlondonicb.nhs.uk)

The purpose of this podcast is to inform and educate health care professionals working in the primary care and community setting. The content is evidence based and consistent with NICE guidelines and North West Guidelines available at the time of publication.

The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement.

Produced by award-winning media and marketing specialist Heather Pownall of Heather's Media Hub