Focus – A simple urine test can reveal the risk to the heart

A simple urine test can provide important data on kidney health and, at the same time, on cardiovascular risk. It is about uACR, or the ratio between albumin and creatinine in urine, writes salute.eu.

This check is especially recommended for people with arterial hypertension or type 2 diabetes, since kidney disease can develop for a long time without causing symptoms.

According to experts in the field of cardio-nephrology, the early identification of albuminuria can help in identifying people who are at higher risk and in taking timely protective measures for the kidneys and the cardiovascular system.

How is the test performed?

uACR measures the ratio between the amount of albumin and creatinine in a urine sample, usually collected in the morning.

In the early stages of kidney disease, when albuminuria appears, the patient may have no symptoms at all. For this reason, laboratory analysis can help detect changes before they become visible.

“It is a very simple test to perform and costs very little,” explains Massimo Morosetti, president of the Italian Kidney Foundation.

Detecting a kidney problem also matters for the use of medicines. Impaired kidney function may require changes in the type or dose of some medications, so the information must be taken into consideration by the doctor.

From the kidneys to the heart

The kidneys and the heart are closely connected. For this reason, the assessment of kidney function and the checking of albuminuria provide complementary information.

eGFR shows how well the kidneys filter the blood, while uACR shows whether albumin, which should normally be retained by the kidney filter, is passing into the urine.

This means that a person can have a normal eGFR, but at the same time have albuminuria. In such a situation, measuring the kidneys’ filtering function alone may not be enough to identify the risk early.

According to Leonardo De Luca, director of the Cardiology Complex Structure at the IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation in Pavia, a kidney can continue to filter well, but begin to let small amounts of albumin pass through.

An integrated approach for the kidneys and the heart

European guidelines emphasise the importance of an integrated approach to cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease.

The aim is not only to diagnose kidney disease, but also to identify people at risk as early as possible, so as to intervene to slow the disease’s progression and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

This topic was also put in focus during “EU Screening Week”, the European week for screening and early diagnosis, held from 28 September to 4 October as part of the European Commission’s Safe Hearts plan.