Video: Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Report Shows Significant Gap in Care for Patients With Chronic Kidn...( MADISON N.J. Nov. 6 /- The majori...),Health

MADISON, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The majority of people with diabetes and/or high blood pressure -- the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) -- are not receiving recommended tests to identify this disease early, when medical treatment can slow or halt disease progression, according to the latest Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Report. In addition, the report's findings suggest that patients with early-stage CKD are not being well managed for contributing diseases, such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/quest/30595/

These findings, released today by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) following the National Kidney Foundation's consensus conference, Cardio-Kidney Diabetes ... The Triple Threat, are based on diagnostic test results from more than 5 million patients in the Quest Diagnostics database.

The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Report, "An Analysis of Chronic Kidney Disease in the U.S.," is the largest assessment of the relationships among CKD, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Two analyses were conducted. The first, performed on test results from 2005 to 2006, showed that a majority of patients with evidence of kidney disease as well as diabetes and/or high blood pressure (hypertension) did not receive a widely available, inexpensive and non-invasive urine test to check for albumin, or protein in the urine, in the previous 12 months. Specifically, 90 percent of patients with hypertension and CKD, 60 percent of patients with diabetes and CKD, and 52 percent of patients with diabetes, hypertension and CKD did not receive the microalbumin test during this time period.

The study suggests a failure to implement evidence-based guidelines issued by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), American Diabetes Association (ADA), National Institutes of
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