Drs Aide Vega and Fernando Carnavali highlight the increased control in both diabetes and kidney function with the use of KidneyIntelX in patients with DKD.
Aida Vega, MD: Can you comment on the noted improvements in diabetes control and kidney function that was seen in the study population?
Fernando Carnavali, MD: Yes. This shows us that a tool that has what it takes to get the attention of the patient and the providers will give results. And this is what KidneyIntelX represents: a tool that as we now improve diabetes control, a 10% decrease for the hemoglobin A1c. Also the albuminuria, the change was in 15%, so improve both diabetes control and improve kidney disease. Again, the byproduct of a tool that was used wisely, we didn't mention but the study have the team of population health put in orders and facilitating for the provider. And we have an excellent team that made the connection to the patient after the tests results came. But again, we're talking about as early as 6 months with an impact that is significant. And again, this is only interim data. So, the data will continue to show, in my opinion, excellent results.
Aida Vega, MD: I also want to comment on how it engaged the patients. We haven't spent a lot of time on this, but I must say when the patients saw these resultsand since it was visible, clearly identified, the patients themselves were seeing these results. And even if you didn't discuss it with them, they would ask you “What does it mean to have high risk? What does it mean to have medium risk?” Andwhen they saw these results, they were more engaged in taking their medications or losing weight or discussing their health with you in terms of diabetic control. So, it had an impact not just on provider education and provider patterns of prescribing or management, but also the patients became engaged in these results and also taking care of themselves. Wouldn't you say that?
Fernando Carnavali, MD: Completely in agreement. And again, highlighting is the point that this isn't from the real world. The evidence is not from this selective cohort of patients that enrolled in a research study. This is the real-world evidence. This is what happened when KidneyIntelX was ordered, and the results came to the provider. The patients now are seeing the results online as well. So, it created this dialogue of a disease that had no symptoms because these people were not symptomatic. Well, what we know is you can be stage 5 and not have symptoms necessarily. So, it created a conversation and gave the space and the forum for us to talk to our patients about something that needs to be corrected before it advances. But we didn't have the right tools to capture the information and KidneyIntelX is doing that. So, I agree with you.
Aida Vega, MD: I have tremendous faith in the test, and it has definitely, at least for me personally as I was involved in the study, it improved my patient care tremendously in this diabetic population. I want to thank you, Dr Carnavali, for joining me in this discussion. I hope you and the viewers enjoyed this Between the Lines journal club experience, and thank you for tuning in.
Fernando Carnavali, MD: Thank you, Dr Vega. Pleasure being with you today.
Transcript edited for clarity
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