Early diagnosis of CKD needs to be a national priority – Here's why:
More than 35 million Americas are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and most of them don’t know it. CKD is called a “silent disease” because symptoms often don’t show until later stages. Diabetes and high blood pressure are two major risk factors for CKD, that’s why people with either of these conditions need two tests (a blood test called eGFR and urine test uACR) to find out how their kidney health. Unfortunately, around 80% of patients at risk do not get the two tests they need to diagnose CKD before it progresses further. We will continue to strive to work together with policymakers to bring awareness to the importance of timely management of CKD conditions.
The importance of diagnosing CKD
Early diagnosis and treatment of CKD may help preserve kidney function, reduce the risk of kidney damage, hospitalizations and death due to cardiovascular events. Imagine the suffering that could be alleviated for patients and families. We ask lawmakers to collaborate with CKD patient organizations to increase public awareness of the silent and serious nature of CKD. Broadening the support system and collaborative efforts to fight CKD could encourage more people at risk to seek complete CKD testing from healthcare professionals.
The impact on our healthcare system
In 2019 alone, the cost of CKD to Medicare in the United States was over $87 billion and half of ALL healthcare costs went toward CKD treatment. Making CKD a priority can lead to cost savings across our healthcare system.
The power is in our hands
Boehringer Ingelheim asks policymakers to make CKD screening and diagnosis a healthcare priority now. Further, we encourage policymakers to elevate CKD—and, by extension, its interconnection to other cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases—in national noncommunicable disease policies, including with specific targets and budgets.
Early screening and diagnosis can improve early access to guideline-recommended care and build healthcare capacity to support a multidisciplinary approach for CKD patients.
Let’s find CKD.