WOONSOCKET — CVS Health Corp. plans to provide earlier intervention for people most at risk for kidney disease and will launch a clinical trial of a new home-based dialysis machine allowing longer, more frequent treatments, which studies show improve renal patients’ health.
The company will crunch medical and pharmacy claims data with predictive analytic algorithms to identify people most at risk for kidney disease and failure. Those patients will then receive early-intervention nursing care from CVS Caremark’s AccordantCare specialized nursing service, said Christine Cramer, senior director at CVS Health.
Facing the Holidays with a Cancer Diagnosis
The holidays are often painted as a time of joy, tradition, and togetherness. But for…
Learn More
“Our AccordantCare nurses will engage these individuals to educate them on their risk, important tests and the need to see a nephrologist. This team will continue to work with and support individuals that progress in their disease,” Cramer said.
There are often no symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease, which can go undetected until it is very advanced, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. About 30 million people, or 15 percent of US adults, are estimated to have Chronic Kidney Disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. About 48 percent of those with severely reduced kidney function who are not on dialysis are not aware they have the disease.
“Diagnosing kidney disease early is the only way to prevent kidney failure and cardiovascular complications,” said Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, chief medical officer of the National Kidney Foundation.
Cramer said CVS Health is working with a partner to develop the home dialysis device but that she could not identify the partner. The exact date of the start of the clinical trial, and the length of time it will be run, have yet to be determined, she said.
According to a statement from CVS Health, the dialysis machine has been designed with features intended to make home dialysis simple and safe for patients, in order to facilitate longer, more frequent treatments. The National Institutes of Health reports that longer, more frequent dialysis has been shown to improve heart health and blood pressure, as well as overall health.
“While in-center dialysis clinics are currently the most common choice for hemodialysis treatment, published clinical research has shown improved cardiac health, metabolic control, and survival for patients who are treated with longer, more frequent dialysis treatments. This treatment paradigm is best delivered in the convenience of a patient’s home,” said Dr. Bruce Culleton, vice president and chief medical officer, CVS Specialty.
“CVS Health is uniquely positioned to build a solution that will enable us to identify and intervene earlier with patients to optimize the management of chronic kidney disease, while at the same time making home dialysis therapies a real option for more patients,” Culleton said.
According to the latest U.S. Renal Data System Annual Data Report, more than 660,000 Americans are being treated for kidney failure. Of these, 468,000 are dialysis patients and more than 193,000 have a functioning kidney transplant.
“There is an urgent need to increase patient awareness of not only the disease itself but also of the treatment options available for both early and chronic kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. Many patients believe in-center dialysis is their only kidney failure treatment choice, and do not know about patient-centered options, including home dialysis or kidney transplant,” said Vassalotti.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
