This website is intended for UK Healthcare Professionals only. Other UK residents please visit astrazeneca.co.uk

Prescribing information can be found in the middle of the page and adverse event reporting information at the bottom of the page.

Renal conditions

Renal diseases are increasingly affecting the UK population, with profound implications for public health and quality of life. These conditions are often underdiagnosed, leading to delayed interventions and poorer outcomes. It is crucial to implement early diagnostic and proactive risk management strategies to slow disease progression and reduce the risk of developing comorbidities.^1,2

Our renal focus areas

We are committed to improving treatment and research in two critical aspects of renal health and its related complications: chronic kidney disease and hyperkalaemia.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects around 7.2 million people in the UK and there are approximately a million people living with undiagnosed CKD in England alone. It is well established that people from lower socio-economic groups and people from ethnic minority groups are more likely to develop CKD.

With better screening, early management, and innovative pharmacological therapies, CKD progression could be delayed and patients may enjoy healthier and more productive lives.²

Explore AstraZeneca’s option for managing CKD:

FORXIGA^® (dapagliflozin)

FORXIGA^® (dapagliflozin) is indicated for the treatment of CKD in adult patients *

FORXIGA^®(dapagliflozin) Prescribing Information

* Dapagliflozin is not recommended in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 mL/min/1.73m^2.

Hyperkalaemia, defined as serum or plasma potassium ≥ 5.5 mmol/L, can be life-threatening. Patients with severe hyperkalaemia are most at risk of death, with an in-hospital mortality rate of around 31%.⁶

Certain CKD and heart failure medications, such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), can cause high potassium levels, leading to a higher chance of developing hyperkalaemia.⁷

There is an urgent need for better hyperkalaemia treatment across patient populations to reduce mortality rates and cardiovascular complications^.7 Current approaches often involve down-titration of RAASi therapy, which can increase the risk of death and prevent the achievement of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Improved management is crucial for effective cardiorenal protection.⁸

Explore AstraZeneca’s option for managing hyperkalaemia:

LOKELMA^®(sodium zirconium cyclosilicate)

LOKLEMA^®(sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalaemia in adult patients

LOKELMA^® (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) Prescribing Information

Impact on quality of life and the healthcare system

With the increased prevalence of risk factors such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease in an ageing population, the prevalence of CKD is also increasing.² This rise contributes to greater utilisation of healthcare resources for CKD, driving up costs.²

In 2023, the economic burden of CKD in the UK was estimated at £7.0 billion, including £6.4 billion in direct costs to the NHS, representing approximately 3.2% of its budget.³

Left untreated, CKD may cause the kidneys to stop working, which can lead to the need for dialysis or kidney transplant. This can cause a decline in a patient's quality of life.

Our commitment to helping HCPs improve patient outcomes

At AstraZeneca, we are committed to transforming the management of CKD and hyperkalaemia by working in partnership with the NHS to help:

Improve early detection and diagnosis
Achieve guideline-directed therapy
Reduce disease progression to end-stage renal disease in CKD
Lower the risk of the onset of other closely linked complications
Provide better long-term health outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients across the UK
Reduce the burden on the UK healthcare system

We are supporting boundary-pushing research across the full continuum of disease progression. We want to reframe practice to place an increased emphasis on early detection and diagnosis and we are committed to reducing disease progression to end-stage renal disease and the onset of other closely linked cardiovascular complications.

NHS. Chronic-Kidney-Disease-in-England-The-Human-and-Financial-Cost.pdf. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/improvement-hub/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/11/Chronic-Kidney-Disease-in-England-The-Human-and-Financial-Cost.pdf
Braun L, Sood V, Hogue S, Lieberman B, Copley-Merriman C. High burden and unmet patient needs in chronic kidney disease. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2012 Dec 13;5:151–63.
Economics-of-Kidney-Disease-full-report_accessible.pdf. [cited 2024 Aug 2]. Available from: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Economics-of-Kidney-Disease-full-report_accessible.pdf
Chronic kidney disease [Internet]. nhs.uk. [cited 2024 Aug 2]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/
Bianchi S, Aucella F, De Nicola L, Genovesi S, Paoletti E, Regolisti G. Management of hyperkalemia in patients with kidney disease: a position paper endorsed by the Italian Society of Nephrology. J Nephrol. 2019 Aug;32(4):499–516.
Clinical Practice Guidelines. Treatment of Acute Hyperkalaemia in Adults. UK Kidney Association; 2022 Jul [cited 2024 Aug 13]. Available from: https://ukkidney.org/sites/renal.org/files/RENAL%20ASSOCIATION%20HYPERKALAEMIA%20GUIDELINE%20-%20JULY%202022%20V2_0.pdf
Hunter RW, Bailey MA. Hyperkalemia: pathophysiology, risk factors and consequences. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2019;34(Suppl 3):iii2-iii11. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfz206
Silva-Cardoso J, Brito D, Frazão JM, et al. Management of RAASi-associated hyperkalemia in patients with cardiovascular disease. Heart Fail Rev. 2021;26(4):891-896. doi:10.1007/s10741-020-10069-3
Sarnowski A, Gama RM, Dawson A, Mason H, Banerjee D. Hyperkalemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: Links, Risks and Management. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2022 Aug 2;15:215–28.
NHS England. Overview: Chronic Kidney Disease. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/#:~:text=Chronic%20kidney%20disease%20is%20usually,stop%20the%20kidneys%20working%20properly. Last accessed: January 2025.

GB-63020 | DOP: January 2025

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This website was created for UK HCPs and has been designed to provide information to educate, empower and enable them in the great work they are doing for patients across a range of therapy areas. This website is intended for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in the UK. Other UK residents please visit astrazeneca.co.uk.

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Renal conditions

Our renal focus areas

Chronic kidney disease

Hyperkalaemia

Impact on quality of life and the healthcare system

Our commitment to helping HCPs improve patient outcomes

Abbreviations and References