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.
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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 Health's National Kidney Disease Education Program
(NKDEP), and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which all
recommend annual microalbumin testing to check and follow this marker of
kidney damage among patients with hypertension, diabetes, CVD, and other CKD
risk factors.
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 analysis were for diabetes (HbA1c), low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and kidney disease (eGFR and microalbumin).
"More aggressive monitoring in the early stages of kidney disease allows
more time for evaluation and intervention. We need to work together to promote
implementation of early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease,"
said Joseph A. Vassalotti, MD, chief medical officer, National Kidney
Foundation. "The burden of type 2 diabetes and hypertension is expected to
grow as the Baby Boomers age and as the obesity epidemic continues. The
increase in diabetes and hypertension, the major risk factors for chronic
kidney disease, will also drive up the rates of chronic kidney disease unless
there are major improvements in diabetes and high blood pressure management."
"Physicians may believe that their patients are not at risk for chronic
kidney disease if their blood glucose, lipids and/or blood pressure are
controlled. This is simply not true," said Herman Hurwitz, MD, FCAP, senior
medical director, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. "Chronic kidney disease is
an insidious consequence of these diseases and can progress quickly without
routine monitoring. Patients at increased risk for chronic kidney disease
should be screened for microalbuminuria at least annually, while those with
confirmed microalbuminuria may require even more frequent monitoring depending
on their response to treatment. Yet, our data suggests that at-risk chronic
kidney disease patients are not being monitored as recommended by established
guidelines."
Study Methodology
The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Report, "An Analysis of Chronic
Kidney Disease in the U.S.," is based on an initial review of test results
from November 2005 to December 2006, for patients ages 18 and older. Patient
matching software was used to assign a "patient matching" identification
number, so that a de-identified data set of individual patient results,
matched over time, could be created. The de-identified data was then
aggregated for analysis. The result was a data set that allowed the company to
analyze data on the level of the individual patient, while assuring that
patients could not be identified by name, address, physician name, or similar
features.
The first analysis was based on 3.4 million eGFR results in October 2006,
and 2.8 million microalbumin tests between November 2005 and October 2006. The
analysis determined the percentage of patients with eGFR <60 who had a
microalbumin test performed during the previous 12 months, grouped by
diagnosis.
The second analysis is based on approximately 13 million test results for
diabetes (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and kidney disease
(eGFR and microalbumin) performed in 2006, on 7.9 million unique patients. Of
these test results, 500,000 met all the criteria for inclusion in the final
analysis. Stage of CKD was based on patients having, on at least two occasions
90 days or more apart, an eGFR result of <60 mL/min/1.73 m or a microalbumin
result >30. For patients with multiple eGFR results during a single time
period, the average of the two lowest eGFR scores was used to define stage of
CKD.
In both studies described above, the presence of CVD (including a subset
of patients with hypertension) and diabetes were identified by specified ICD-9
diagnostic codes, which are used by the diagnostics industry to categorize
diseases.
Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM)
Quest Diagnostics maintains the largest private clinical laboratory data
warehouse in the United States. Consisting of 17 billion data points, and
growing by 10 million a day, the database provides laboratory information on
the vast majority of conditions and diseases affecting Americans today. Quest
Diagnostics provides these data to health plans to help manage the health of
their members. Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Reports identify and track
disease and wellness benchmarks. De-identified data are made available as a
public service to inform patients, health professionals and policymakers about
the current status of the nation's health.
This latest Quest Diagnostics Health Trends(TM) Report focused on CKD, CVD
and diabetes because of the large numbers of patients affected by one or more
of these diseases. This report builds on previous Health Trends(TM) reports of
management of diabetes (assessed by HbA1c tests) and cholesterol (assessed by
LDL tests).
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation, New York, NY, is dedicated to preventing
kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well being of
individuals and families affected by these diseases, influencing public policy
in support of the kidney community and increasing the availability of all
organs for transplantation.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its national network of laboratories and patient
service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive
medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing
innovative new diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology
solutions that help improve patient care. Additional company information is
available at: www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and
outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties
may include, but are not limited to, competitive environment, changes in
government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers,
suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2006 Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT: Media, Wendy Bost, +1-973-520-2900, or Investors, Laure Park,
+1-973-520-2800, both of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated/
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Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com /
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