New research out of Sweden's Karolinska Institutet found that many patients with 'normal' kidney test results are still at meaningfully higher risk of future kidney failure, because standard cutoffs don't account for age.
Why it matters
Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 10 to 15 percent of adults worldwide and is often diagnosed only after more than half of kidney function is already lost, making earlier detection tools potentially lifesaving.
What to watch
The research team has released a free web-based calculator for clinicians to check where a patient's kidney function falls against population norms for their age and sex.