Canadian study shows pharmacists can help detect chronic kidney disease in at-risk patients

A new study shows that pharmacists can identify previously undetected cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in high-risk patients. In a report to be published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal, pharmacists recognized the disease in one of every 6.4 patients tested. Pharmacists in Alberta used an online decision-making tool that helped identify high-risk patients, and then screened 720 to determine the incidence of CKD. In all, 39% had the disease—but 40% of those with the disease had no record or knowledge of any previous diagnosis.