Early Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease Allows Timely Introduction of Kidney-Protective Therapies

Joseph Vassalotti, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the National Kidney Foundation, wants to remind physicians that urine testing to measure the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) isn’t done as frequently as it should be in people at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as patients with diabetes and hypertension. The ACR is a sensitive marker of kidney disease from early to advanced stages, and early detection results in the more timely introduction of kidney-protective therapies that may slow the course of the disease. Statin-based therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with CKD, as well as patients over age 50.

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