The early identification and optimal management of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) require urgent action.

Primary care practitioners are crucial in the identification and management of CKD and are best placed to implement evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for lifestyle modification and guideline-directed medical therapy.

Clinical practice guidelines recommend the use of a sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor alongside a renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitor as foundational therapy to treat CKD in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors prevent CKD progression and reduce fatal and non-fatal kidney and cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure, and all-cause mortality.

Public and primary care practitioner awareness and education, the adoption of clinical decision support tools, and good interdisciplinary communication are all important to drive change in primary care and improve the early identification and management of CKD.