Your kidneys and heart are interconnected — silent damage to one can affect the other. But a simple, powerful uACR test can help you act early.
Learn more about the kidney-heart connection as well as the uACR urine and eGFR blood tests on this downloadable infographic.
The uACR (urine albumin-creatinine ratio) combined with the eGFR test helps identify early kidney damage. When you know your numbers, you can take steps to reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, or chronic kidney disease.
Hear from our Trusted Messengers: the health care providers who use this test, the patients who wish they had known about it sooner, and the important insights they want others to know about the power of the uACR and early detection.
Watch patients and health care providers share why understanding the kidney-heart connection matters and why the uACR is such a valuable screening tool.
Patients as Trusted Messengers
Our patient panelists share their personal journeys of navigating their health and advocating for themselves and others, reflecting on what they wish they had known sooner — and how early detection of possible kidney damage through the uACR urine test can make a difference.
Health Care Providers as Trusted Messengers
Watch our discussion featuring experienced health care providers who are uniquely qualified to raise awareness of the link between cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. They highlight how the uACR test can serve as a valuable screening tool for patients with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and how it can be combined with the eGFR to get a picture of a patient’s heart and kidney health.
Download this informative pocket card to start a conversation with your health care provider about the uACR test.
Dive Deeper with our Trusted Messengers:
Mitzi, a patient living with heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes, talks about the importance of patient self-advocacy, health literacy, and asking for the uACR test.
Patrick, a patient living with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, talks about the importance of understanding how your conditions are connected and advocating for comprehensive testing.
Thelma, a two-time kidney transplant recipient living with IgA nephropathy and type 2 diabetes, talks about the importance of getting tested and understanding what your results mean.
Dr. Katie Cardone, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, talks about the importance of using the uACR test to identify patients at risk before it is too late.
Dr. Lee Kirksey, Vice Chair of Vascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic; Chief of Health Equity; Association of Black Cardiologists; cardiovascular health disparities researcher, talks about why the heart and kidneys must be understood as a single interconnected system and why the uACR test is the early signal that can change outcomes.
Dr. Veronica Bargas, Director of Critical Care and Cardiovascular Services at El Camino Health, talks about the urgent need for earlier screening to address the compounded risks of cardiac and renal dysfunction.
Learn more about our Trusted Messengers:
Mitzi Franklin
Mitzi was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 16 and lives with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. She has devoted herself to learning the connections between the heart and the kidneys and supports the broader community by sharing her experience both as a patient and caregiver.
Patrick Gee
Patrick is an active member of the kidney disease and diabetes advocacy community. His own personal journey with diabetes, kidney disease, and a kidney transplant has inspired him to advocate for expanded access to care for those living with diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Thelma Barber
Thelma is a patient advocate and two-time kidney transplant recipient who lives with type 2 diabetes and a chronic autoimmune kidney disease. She is passionate about supporting and empowering all those living with kidney disease, especially those who lack access to health care.
Dr. Katie Cardone
As a professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Services, Dr. Cardone has focused her clinical practice and research on improving patient care and outcomes for individuals with kidney disease. She serves on the leadership committee for the Advancing Kidney Health through Optimal Medication Management Initiative and is the lead author in establishing standards and practices for pharmacists working in kidney disease.
Dr. Lee Kirksey
Dr. Kirksey holds the Walter W. Buckley Endowed Vice Chair in Vascular Surgery within the Department of Vascular Surgery and serves as Chief of Health Equity at the Cleveland Clinic Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Black Cardiologists. Dr. Kirksey focuses on researching clinical outcomes and the origins of cardiovascular health disparities across vulnerable communities.
Dr. Veronica Bargas
Dr. Bargas serves as Director of Critical Care and Cardiovascular Services at El Camino Health in Mountain View, CA. She brings deep clinical expertise and leads teams to advance patient safety and outcomes for patients seeking critical care services.
Take the next step in knowing your numbers. Use these free resources to start the conversation with your trusted health care provider today.
This program received support by Boehringer Ingelheim.