Testing for a chronic condition

Our mystery disease, which affects more than 20 million adult Americans, many of whom don't know it, is chronic kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation recently announced new guidelines for doctors, urging them to use routine blood and urine tests to diagnose it.

The foundation suggests that people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease ask their physicians for routine blood and urine tests that can diagnose the problem. Left untreated, chronic kidney disease may ultimately lead to kidney failure, requiring transplant or dialysis for survival. Along with the 20 million adults affected, another 20 million people are at risk, the foundation says.

The guidelines also identify older Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders as being at increased risk of kidney disease.

The guidelines are based on research that indicates that routine office tests can detect the necessary indicators as well as more involved tests requiring a process of 24-hour urine collection.

Resources:

• Read the details on this recommendation issued by the National Kidney foundation.

March 2, 2002

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