RESUMO
Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is a worldwide public health problem. Increasing evidence indicates that earlier stages of CKD can be detected through laboratory testing, and that therapeutic interventions implemented early in the course of CKD are effective in slowing or preventing the progression toward end stage renal failure and its associated complications. Each physician should consider how he/she can contribute to an increase in the local screening, identification, and treatment efforts for CKD. Multidisciplinary collaboration between physicians, health care workers, and the government is necessary to halt the progression of CKD. Unfortunately, there is paucity of data concerning epidemiologic characteristics of CKD in Iran, resulting in lost opportunities for prevention. The present article summarizes recent observations about CKD epidemiology, both in Iran and worldwide