The National Health Council has launched a Detroit pilot campaign aimed at increasing awareness of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio testing among people at high risk of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.

Campaign targets kidney disease screening gap

The Trusted Messengers campaign focuses on uACR testing, which measures levels of albumin in urine and can help identify kidney damage.

The National Health Council (NHC) said the campaign is intended to address a gap in testing among adults with conditions including type 2 diabetes and hypertension, who are at increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular events.

According to the NHC, research suggests that only two in 10 eligible patients receive uACR testing, despite clinical guidelines recommending the test for people with certain risk factors.

The organisation has selected Detroit as the first market for the campaign, citing the city’s high burden of cardio-kidney-metabolic disease.

Cardiovascular disease, CKD, diabetes and hypertension are closely interconnected, with patients who have multiple conditions facing increased health risks.

Randall Rutta, chief executive officer of the National Health Council, said: “Patients and health care providers are partners in managing chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and more, but they may not know how linked these conditions are.”

He added that the campaign aims to improve understanding of how uACR testing can identify potential kidney damage.

uACR testing highlighted in early kidney disease detection

The uACR test measures the amount of albumin relative to creatinine in a urine sample. Albumin in the urine, known as albuminuria, can be an indicator of kidney damage.

The NHC campaign highlights the role of uACR alongside eGFR, a blood test used to assess kidney filtration.

The organisation said the campaign is intended to encourage conversations between patients and healthcare professionals about kidney health and appropriate testing.

Dr Lee Kirksey, vascular surgeon at Cleveland Clinic and an NHC Trusted Messenger, said: “The uACR, urine albumin to creatinine ratio, can identify very early kidney disease — before the eGFR changes, before the creatinine changes, at a point when the cells are starting to become damaged.”

Kirksey said this could provide an opportunity to identify kidney disease earlier in its progression.

The campaign brings together six Trusted Messengers, including three patients with lived experience of CKD, kidney transplantation and metabolic disease, alongside three healthcare professionals.

The group includes a vascular surgeon, an internal medicine and clinical pharmacist specialist and a cardiology-focused nurse.

The campaign will use video panel discussions alongside educational materials designed to increase awareness of uACR testing and the relationship between kidney and cardiovascular health.

Detroit pilot focuses on cardio-kidney-metabolic disease

The NHC said Detroit was selected because of the burden of conditions including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and CKD in the region.

The organisation said these conditions can interact and increase the risk of serious health outcomes, highlighting the need for earlier identification and management of kidney disease.

The campaign also aims to address the experiences of people who are diagnosed with CKD later in the course of their disease.

Patient advocate Patrick Gee, an NHC Trusted Messenger, described learning that he had stage 3B kidney disease and reduced kidney function after receiving his diagnosis.

He said: “Not only was I speechless, but I went through the full cycle of grief.”

The campaign is supported by educational resources developed for patients and healthcare professionals, with agency support from OPEN Health’s Patient Engagement practice.

The initiative received support from Boehringer Ingelheim.

The NHC said the Detroit programme will serve as a pilot for its wider Trusted Messengers initiative, which focuses on public health issues affecting people living with chronic diseases and disabilities.

The campaign comes as healthcare organisations continue to examine ways to identify CKD earlier and improve management of patients at risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications.

The NHC’s focus on uACR testing reflects the growing recognition of the relationship between kidney disease, cardiovascular health and metabolic conditions, and the potential importance of earlier identification in high-risk populations.