Primary Versus Secondary Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease: The Case of Dietary Protein (Editorial)

Abstract

The proclamation that “the greatest medicine of all is to teach people how not to need it” (Hippocrates. 460-370 BC, Greece) is the basic principle of primary disease prevention, which aims to prevent disease before it ever occurs. Preventing exposures to hazards that cause disease, such as altering unhealthy behaviors, is one example of primary disease prevention. Secondary or tertiary disease prevention, however, refers to reducing the impact of a disease that has already occurred, or limiting the impact of an ongoing illness that has lasting effects, respectively. Salutary diets or lifestyles for primary versus secondary/tertiary disease prevention may not necessarily align.