Combined Role of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) Testing in CKD

In ‘Combined Role of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) Testing in CKD,’ our experts delve into the following critical question:

1. How do you explain estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) to patients and their combined role in CKD diagnosis and staging?

Led by the moderator, the experts explore the practical steps clinicians should take after ordering a uACR, including how to interpret results and communicate their significance to patients. They emphasize that uACR and eGFR are complementary measures, with eGFR reflecting kidney function and uACR serving as a marker of endothelial and vascular damage that informs both kidney and cardiovascular risk. The discussion highlights the KDIGO heat map as a practical tool that integrates these measures to stratify risk, guide follow-up testing, and inform referral decisions. The experts underscore that uACR is critical for uncovering latent CKD in patients with normal or mildly reduced eGFR, and that failing to test for albuminuria results in missed diagnoses and unrecognized cardiovascular risk across all care settings.

Our next episode, ‘Evaluating Clinical Gaps in Combining uACR and eGFR Testing in CKD Diagnosis,’ further explores chronic kidney disease, highlighting the importance of pairing uACR with eGFR in routine renal screening to get a complete picture of kidney health. The panel emphasizes proper ordering, testing techniques, and follow-up to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease.