Video: Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Report Shows Significant Gap in Care for Patients With Chronic Kidn...(Health's National Kidney DiseaseEducatio...),Health

A slightly elevated level of protein in the urine, or microalbuminuria, is one of the earliest markers of kidney disease. The microalbumin test can detect kidney damage when no other symptoms are present, and provides information that can help physicians and their patients determine treatment that can potentially slow disease progression.

The report is based on findings from 6.2 million estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) test and microalbumin test results, two key indicators of kidney function, performed by Quest Diagnostics between November 2005 and October 2006 on 5.2 million patients who saw a healthcare professional. Among patients who had an eGFR result, approximately 19 percent had a reading of <60 mL/min/1.73 m, an indicator of kidney disease.

An estimated 20 million Americans -- or 1 in 9 adults -- have CKD, which causes kidney damage. Clinical evidence has shown that early detection and treatment of CKD can slow or prevent the progression of the disease to chronic kidney failure, as well as reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. Deaths from CKD have increased 52 percent over the last 16 years.

A second analysis looked at the relationship among CKD, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. This analysis found that of approximately 500,000 test results from people with diabetes or CVD, patients in the early stages of CKD have higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Elevated HbA1c values indicate inadequate blood sugar control and risk for chronic complications associated with diabetes, such as CKD. These patients are also less likely to achieve LDL-cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol, goals than patients with advanced CKD. The tests used in this a
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