Early Detection of CKD Using uACR Screening in High-Risk Indian Adults: A Cross-Sectional, Real-World Study Using the Neodocs Kit

Authors: Mudit Sabharwal, Seema Bagri, Soumik Goswami, Apurv Parekh, Debmalya Saniyal, Bharat Saboo, Subodh Banzal, Abhyudaya Verma, BS Shah, Satyam Chakraborty, Sayantan Chakraborty, Chandreshkumar Sudani, Pratyush Kumar, Nikunj Malpani, Anurag Meena, Pratik Lodha, Rajendra Kumar, Shubham Munde

DOI: 10.18231/j.ijrimcr.13320.1760074492

Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR), Early CKD Detection, Dipstick Urinalysis, CKD Screening in India, Neodocs Kidney Care Kit.

Abstract: Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health concern, with diabetes and hypertension being its primary contributors. Early detection in high-risk populations is necessary to prevent end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Aim and Objective: The present study aimed to assess CKD prevalence among high-risk individuals using a novel screening tool and to evaluate the impact of associated medical conditions, namely diabetes and hypertension, on CKD risk. Materials and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study included 505 high-risk patients from various cities across India, where CKD screening was performed using the Point of Care, Neodocs Kidney Care Kit, a dipstick urinalysis tool that tests for multiple markers, including the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Data was analyzed to check the feasibility of this screening, CKD prevalence, and its association with diabetes, hypertension. Results: CKD prevalence was significantly higher in patients with diabetes (30.16%) compared to those without (18.42%, p = 0.0048). A non-significant trend toward higher CKD prevalence was observed in hypertensive patients (30.24% vs. 22.67%, p = 0.07). Patients with both diabetes and hypertension had the highest CKD prevalence (37.59%), significantly exceeding those with only diabetes (24.73%, p = 0.02), only hypertension (16.67%, p = 0.003), or neither condition (19.49%, p = 0.003). Although CKD incidence was highest among patients with diabetes duration over 10 years (36.4%), the difference was not statistically significant compared to those with shorter durations. Conclusion: This study shows the high burden of CKD in patients with diabetes and hypertension, especially when both conditions coexist. Targeted screening could improve outcomes and reduce the burden of kidney disease in India.