One in three adults with diabetes may have chronic kidney disease, but many aren’t checking their kidneys regularly as recommended. In collaboration with Cigna, Healthy.io increased kidney testing by providing Cigna customers with an accessible testing option using just a smartphone camera and test kit. The pilot results showed a high test completion rate and positive customer feedback.
Kidney disease is a common health affliction for people with diabetes — approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes may have chronic kidney disease (CKD). In recognition of American Diabetes Month, we want to share the importance of preventive testing to halt or delay diabetes complications and improve overall health.
Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are leading causes of CKD. High blood sugar can begin to damage kidneys and their millions of tiny filters called nephrons. Over time, this can develop into CKD. Often referred to as a silent killer, there usually aren’t any signs or symptoms in CKD’s early stages and as many as 9 in 10 adults with CKD don’t know they have it.
The Importance of Preventive Testing
The best way to detect kidney disease is through regular testing. Early detection can promote early intervention and prevent additional dangerous and costly health complications for patients with diabetes. Despite clinical recommendations, only 35% of patients with diabetes globally receive their annual albumin-to-creatinine (ACR) test to check for potential kidney damage.
With this in mind, we created the first FDA-cleared, smartphone-powered home kidney test to increase ACR test completion rates and improve health outcomes. Patients can complete an ACR test where and when it’s most convenient with just a smartphone and a Minuteful Kidney test kit.
The Minuteful Kidney test kit and app simplify urine testing by making it available to anyone with access to a smartphone. After following the test’s step-by-step instructions, customers receive instant, clinical-grade results that they can share with their primary care provider within minutes. The ease and convenience of smartphone-powered home testing help improve test completion and user satisfaction while driving customers back into care.
Raising Test Completion Rates with At-Home Testing
In an effort to increase CKD testing and help close gaps in care, Cigna participated in a pilot with Healthy.io to offer this unique, at-home service to a population of over 6,000 commercial and Medicare Advantage customers with diabetes and/or hypertension. The goal of the pilot was to help customers with diabetes become more aware of risk factors for CKD and the importance of preventive testing and to share results with customers’ primary care physicians to prevent care gaps.
Nearly 26% of at-risk, previously untested customers completed the test. Of those, 31% had abnormal or high abnormal results, prompting further care and helping prevent serious health complications.1
Overall, customers in the pilot reported high satisfaction with Minuteful Kidney. The service boasted an NPS score of +60 with 92% of members stating that they would recommend Minuteful Kidney to a friend. Additionally, 95% of participating customers, including several customers over the age of 90, found the test easy or very easy to use.2
