March is National Kidney Month, a time to remind us about kidney disease and kidney health. Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is too common among adults in the United States. There are nearly 37 million people living with kidney disease and 90% are unaware they have it. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the numbers are staggering:
- Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States, and costs Medicare over $84 billion to treat.
- Almost 50% of adults with severely reduced kidney function, and are not on dialysis, are not even aware of having chronic kidney disease.
- Determining CKD early can help avoid kidney failure, which necessitates costly ongoing treatments, such as dialysis or even a kidney transplant.
At BioIQ we believe “All healthcare begins with a test,” because, when a test detects disease, treatment can begin and ultimately lives can be saved. For CKD, cancers, and other conditions we have redesigned how tests are performed – making it easy to be screened. Through our network of labs and diversified supply chains, we get testing done on time and at a lower cost to help employers, health plans and government agencies keep their participants healthy.
Specifically, for CKD, BioIQ offers three valuable tests to identify kidney damage and the onset of kidney disease:
- eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) – is the best test to measure your level of kidney function and determine the stage of kidney disease. This test is recognized by NCQA as a quality measure for HEDIS and by CMS as a Star quality measure for 2021.
- UACR (Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio) – Urine will be tested for albumin, a type of protein. Having protein in your urine may mean that your kidneys are not filtering your blood efficiently and effectively and this can be a sign of early kidney disease. This test is recognized by NCQA as a quality measure for HEDIS and by CMS as a Star quality measure for 2021.
- Microalbumin – A urine microalbumin test detects very small levels of a blood protein (albumin) in your urine. This test can detect early signs of kidney damage in people who are at risk of developing kidney disease. Microalbumin tests are recommended for people with an increased risk of kidney disease, such as those with diabetes or high blood pressure.
To help prevent CKD and lower the risk for kidney failure, control risk factors for CKD, get tested yearly, make lifestyle changes, take medicine as needed, and see your health care team regularly.
To learn how BioIQ can help your employees or plan members with convenient at-home CKD testing, click here.