Transforming the Delivery of CKD Education and Care

An estimated 37 million Americans are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a potentially fatal condition marked by the gradual loss of kidney function over time. Yet, as many as 9 out of 10 US adults living with CKD are unaware that they have the condition because symptoms typically don’t appear until CKD is advanced. 1

At AstraZeneca, we believe we can play an important role in driving earlier CKD diagnoses leading to better patient outcomes. We are committed to educating healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients about CKD risk factors and the importance of early intervention, as well as collaborating with patient advocacy and public health groups to implement changes around CKD screening at the policy level.

Accelerating Change Together for CKD

We consider ourselves a central part of the healthcare community and are committed to working with patients, HCPs, policymakers, industry leaders and others to transform CKD delivery and care.

To fulfil this commitment, we have launched the Accelerate Change Together (ACT) on CKD program, which aims to drive comprehensive change across the healthcare system. ACT on CKD raises awareness of the condition, empowers primary care physicians (PCP) to conduct routine screenings and diagnose CKD early, and highlights the need for policy reform to support people at risk of CKD and, ultimately, reduce the risk of disease progression.

Early screening and diagnosis are essential to preserving kidney function.2 As part of ACT on CKD, we’ve provided Kidney Risk Kits to PCP offices to help facilitate screenings for at-risk patients, including those living with diabetes and high blood pressure. The program has not only enabled earlier CKD diagnoses; it has heightened PCP awareness of the condition and allows for better conversations with their at-risk patients.

Advocating for Routine CKD Screenings

At AstraZeneca, we believe the identification of CKD at earlier Stages (Stages 1-3),3 when the disease is more manageable, can slow disease progression and lead to better health outcomes, particularly for those at the highest risk of kidney failure. Real-world evidence from the REVEAL-CKD study shows that delaying the diagnosis of Stage 3 CKD by one year resulted in a 40% increase in disease progression to Stage 4 or 5 and a 63% increased risk of needing a kidney transplant or long-term dialysis treatment. This data highlights the urgent need for earlier CKD screening for at-risk populations.4

We continue to advocate for patients, using our voice to keep CKD top-of-mind for policymakers and accelerate the adoption of routine CKD screenings for at-risk populations​:

  • We’ve partnered with the Milken Institute Center for Public Health to convene leaders from the public, private, nonprofit, health, and academic sectors and develop a report and roadmap that explore ways to positively impact CKD from a public health perspective.
  • We’ve publicly expressed our support for the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation to add CKD screenings to its list of preventive services and provided evidence-based comments in support of the initiative.
  • We’ve openly backed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent Delay in Progression of CKD Measure (3753) submitted for endorsement by Battelle’s Partnership for Quality Measurement (P4QM), which advocates for value-based payment models that encourage improvements in CKD care.

Enabling Earlier Diagnoses and Treatment

Together, PCPs and Nephrologists play a critical role in ensuring healthy futures for those at-risk for and living with CKD. In support of these physicians and their patients, AstraZeneca has partnered with several healthcare organizations to develop resources that help to diagnosis and treat CKD earlier:

  • AvoMD, an application-based clinical decision platform, now includes the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Blood Pressure in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Guideline at no charge to institutions. The KDIGO module is accessible within electronic health records making the guideline easily accessible to healthcare providers.
  • Leveraging the PINC AI database, we are identifying patients living with undiagnosed CKD who have been treated at a Premier Medical Group facility. With the insights uncovered, we will develop resources for physicians to provide education on CKD risk factors and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for patients.
  • As part of a new strategic partnership with Fresenius’ Renal Pharmaceutical Group, AstraZeneca will provide training for their in-network Nephrologists on CKD early intervention.

Building upon our legacy in renal disease, we remain steadfast in our dedication to addressing the unmet needs of those at risk for and living with CKD. We continue to be committed to advancing the science through our robust pipeline, enacting policy change to increase access to CKD screenings, and deepening our partnerships with physicians and health systems to deliver the best care for patients.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chronic kidney disease in the United States, 2021. CDC website. Accessed September 15, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/pdf/Chronic-Kidney-Disease-in-the-US-2021-h.pdf
  2. Chen TK, Knicely DH, Grams ME. Chronic kidney disease diagnosis and management: a review. JAMA. 2019;322(13):1294-1304. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.14745
  3. National Kidney Foundation. Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Published 2023. Accessed October 2, 2023.
  4. Tangri N, et al. Patient management and clinical outcomes associated with a recorded diagnosis of stage 3 chronic kidney disease: the REVEAL-CKD study. Adv Ther. 2023; 1-2 40:2869-85.