Kidney failure is a global health concern, with Singapore ranking 6th in the world for reported cases. Astonishingly, an estimated 200,000 Singaporeans may be living with undiagnosed Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition that, if left untreated, can progress to kidney failure.
The key to mitigating the impact of CKD lies in early detection and intervention, potentially delaying the need for dialysis by as much as 10 years or more. Our kidneys, responsible for filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood, can experience silent deterioration until the advanced stages of CKD. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the BUZUD One-Step Microalbuminuria Test emerges as a valuable tool in assessing kidney health.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is a crucial indicator of kidney function, measuring the kidney’s ability to filter waste from the blood. The CKD-EPI equation, adopted for its accuracy, estimates eGFR, offering a relatively simple blood test for CKD screening.
Equally vital is the assessment of kidney damage, which the Urine Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio, a component of the BUZUD One-Step Microalbuminuria Test, addresses. In the early stages of kidney disease, minute amounts of albumin, a blood protein, begin to leak into the urine, indicating microalbuminuria and early kidney damage. Detecting microalbuminuria through a straightforward urine test provides an opportunity for timely intervention to slow down CKD progression.
Results from these screenings enable healthcare professionals to stratify risks and classify patients based on the severity of CKD. Those at a higher risk, including individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or heart disease, as well as those with a family history of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension, are recommended to undergo annual screenings.
It is imperative to consult with a healthcare professional for the interpretation of screening results, correlating them with a patient’s history and clinical findings. The BUZUD One-Step Microalbuminuria Test plays a pivotal role in this approach, emphasizing the importance of early detection for better kidney health and potentially preventing the progression to kidney failure.
