Kidney failure, also known as stage 5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when your kidneys lose their ability to effectively filter waste from your blood. Currently, over 51,000 Malaysians are living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and require kidney replacement therapy.
The Health Ministry has projected that more than 106,000 Malaysians could be on dialysis by 2040 if the rising rates of kidney failure do not change.
Proactive steps to promote early detection and intervention in CKD
Since early detection and intervention in CKD are vital for delaying the progression of CKD-related complications and lowering mortality rates, AstraZeneca, together with the Malaysian Society of Nephrology (MSN), the Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists (MACB), Chapter of Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine, College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (CPMM, CPath AMM), Premier Integrated Labs, Innoquest Pathology, Lablink Medical Laboratory, and Sunway Medical Centre Laboratory has entered into a strategic partnership to revolutionise chronic kidney disease (CKD) care through use of advanced digital solutions such as the MyCKD CPG app and the Kidney Failure Risk Equation.
Dr Mohamed Iqbal bin Hamzah, Director, Medical Practice Division from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, said through these digital solutions, it provides a holistic decision to aid approaches for CKD management for primary care physicians; ranging from tools to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention to providing access to determine risk of CKD progression using the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE).
MyCKD CPG app
Powered by MSN, the MyCKD CPG app is a comprehensive one-stop digital solution providing holistic decision to aid approaches for CKD management for primary care physicians; ranging from tools to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention to providing access to determine risk of CKD progression using the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE).
This digital innovation serves as a cornerstone to improve CKD management in Malaysia, aimed at enhancing the knowledge level, awareness and practice in the early detection and timely intervention of CKD.
What is Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE)?
The KFRE are math equations that can predict how high or low your chance (risk) is for reaching kidney failure within the next 2-year and 5-year points in time.
Instead of waiting for kidney failure to occur unexpectedly, it's more beneficial for patients to have a way to predict their risk of developing it. Understanding this risk allows them to prepare and make informed decisions about their health.
AstraZeneca's Vision to Transform CKD Care
“This innovative partnership exemplifies AstraZeneca's dedication to improving outcomes for individuals by promoting early diagnosis of chronic conditions such as CKD. Through the utilisation of digital tools like the MyCKD CPG app, KFRE integration, and working collaboratively with other partners across the health ecosystem, we will be able to advance the healthcare ecosystem. We need a broad set of partners to be able to orchestrate the change we want to see,” said Vinod Narayanan, Country President, AstraZeneca Malaysia.
Dato’ Dr Lily Mushahar, President, Malaysian Society of Nephrology (MSN) said, “The smart partnership unveiled today represents a significant step forward in CKD care in Malaysia. At MSN, we believe that providing healthcare professionals with the tools to improve CKD management as well as kidney failure risk will not only improve patient outcomes, but also significantly reduce the CKD burden on our healthcare system.”
Dr Raja Elina Raja Aziddin, President, Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists (MACB) said, “By integrating the KFRE into laboratory information system (LIS), we are helping to elevate the way CKD is diagnosed and treated in Malaysia. This collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing healthcare through innovation and scientific rigor, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on patient care.”
Associate Professor Dr Subashini C. Thambiah, President of the Chapter of Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine, College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (CPMM, CPath AMM) said, “Integrating KFRE into lab reports is a pivotal step in improving patient outcomes and resource use by predicting CKD progression accurately, facilitating referrals to nephrologists, and aiding shared decision-making. We're proud to be part of this initiative, which aligns with our Chapter's vision of advancing chemical pathology and metabolic medicine to enhance patient safety and clinical outcomes.
“The main challenge we face is the increasing number of CKD patients and cases of end-stage kidney failure, which place a tremendous strain on healthcare resources and our trained healthcare workforce. According to our National Health and Morbidity Survey, the prevalence of CKD rose from 9.1% in 2011 to 15.5% in 2018. Furthermore, cases of end-stage kidney failure represent just the tip of the iceberg of the entire CKD population, which consumes a disproportionate amount of our healthcare budget for dialysis and transplantation services,” said Dr Sunita Bavanandan, National Head of Services for Nephrology, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Premier Integrated Labs, Innoquest Pathology, Lablink Medical Laboratory, and Sunway Medical Centre Laboratory are committed to report KFRE automatically in their labs.
Members of the public are encouraged to consult their doctors to learn more about the KFRE.
Meanwhile, healthcare professionals may register for a continuing medical education (CME) session on the KFRE HERE.
¹Galen Centre For Health And Social Policy. Malaysia Is On The Brink Of A Kidney Disease Crisis. Last accessed: Retrieved from: CodeBlue
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