Nephrology service and clinical analysis laboratoryClinical Hospital of the University of Valencia created an algorithm based on innovative softwareknown as a clinical decision support system, which makes it easy and accessible to identify patients with kidney disease. This tool facilitates early diagnosis among high-risk populations.
Thanks to this algorithm, it is possible to determine which patients are at greatest risk of developing this disease, for example: patients with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or those over 65 years of age.
The moment these patients are identified, when a primary care physician requests a routine test for any other reason, the algorithm automates the same test, which also measures other parameters to identify chronic kidney disease. This program has received a clinical research award from Inigo Alvarez de Toledo Kidney Foundation (FRIAT)one of the most prestigious awards in the field of nephrology.
“When the primary care physician requests results, he automatically adds kidney screening.”
The algorithm for detecting kidney diseases begins with a visit to the laboratory of a primary care physician. “When requesting any type of test, if the system detects that a patient has any of the four risk factors, it automatically adds chronic kidney disease screening parameters to the test request in less than a second. “This way, when the primary care physician requests the results, they automatically add the kidney screening,” he explained. José Luis Gorriz, Head of the Nephrology Department at the Clinical Hospital of Valencia.
If the test reveals kidney disease, patients are classified into three risk categories: low, medium and high. Laboratory reports include this risk classification along with recommendations to the primary care physician.
“If a patient is identified as high risk and/or has disease progression, an email with patient information is automatically sent to a nephrology specialist for review, who will decide whether to schedule an in-person consultation or make recommendations to the primary care physician. , as needed,” explained Enrique Rodriguez, head of the clinic’s clinical analysis laboratory.
“This system is implemented without overloading the primary care physician, since it is automated and does not require special specialist actions for detection.”
This system of work assists the primary care physician “in identifying patients with chronic kidney disease while stratifying renal and cardiovascular risk, as well as the need to optimize therapy to protect the kidneys. This system is implemented without overloading the primary care physician because it is automatic and does not require specialist intervention for detection,” added Dr. Gorris.
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Chronic kidney disease is a pathology that is characterized by loss of kidney function and in the final phase leads to the need for dialysis or kidney transplant. “Taking action early with this detection system not only improves the prognosis for people who have risk factors or kidney disease and delays its onset, but also improves patients’ quality of life and significantly reduces costs to the healthcare system.” “added Dr. Gorris.
According to the doctor, “This is a silent disease, and detecting it in time is our biggest task. With this algorithm we achieve early detection of this disease, which devastating consequences and, according to recent data, it will be the second leading cause of death in the world at the end of the century.”