Understanding CKD Risk and Screening Patterns in Malaysia

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a significant public health challenge in Malaysia, where rising rates of diabetes, hypertension and an ageing population continue to drive the burden of kidney disease. Researchers from Premier Integrated Labs conducted a large retrospective study involving more than 196,000 adult patient records to examine CKD prevalence, urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) testing patterns and the use of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) in a Malaysian private healthcare setting. The study found that nearly one in ten patients had CKD stages 3 to 5, with more advanced disease occurring more frequently among older adults and males. Analysis also revealed that many patients presented at a late stage of disease progression, highlighting the importance of earlier detection and proactive risk assessment. While albuminuria testing and KFRE scoring play an important role in identifying patients at higher risk of kidney failure, the study found that KFRE utilisation remained relatively low in routine clinical practice. The findings underscore the need for greater adoption of risk-based screening strategies and validated prognostic tools to support earlier intervention, improve kidney disease management and reduce the burden of kidney failure in Malaysia. The study was accepted for presentation at the World Congress of Nephrology 2026