Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) significantly impairs quality of life and imposes a heavy economic burden. Despite existing recommendations from French National Authority for Health (HAS) advocating annual screening for high-risk individuals using urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), only 18% of high-risk individuals in France are tested. This study evaluates the economic benefits of implementing an organized CKD screening program in France using eGFR testing.
METHODS: A health economic analysis was conducted using literature review, internal French Cerba data, Biol’AM database insights, and medico-economic modeling to assess the financial impact of early detection and stratified screening.
RESULTS: France’s high-risk population includes approximately 22.6 million individuals, with 6 million affected by CKD—predominantly men (62.5%) with an average age of 68. The annual cost of CKD is estimated at €5 billion, including €3.6 billion for dialysis, €228 million for transplantation, and €557 million for post-transplant care. Biological testing currently accounts for only €27 million. Modeling suggests that early detection through organized screening could reduce end-stage renal disease (ESRD) cases by 10%, translating into potential savings of €1.6 billion over ten years—even after accounting for screening costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Given the significant clinical and financial burden of CKD, implementing an annual screening program for high-risk individuals—such as those with diabetes, autoimmune or urological disorders, toxic exposures, or prolonged nephrotoxic drug use—could improve early detection and slow disease progression. Deploying targeted screening tools, SMS reminders, and biology-based monitoring packages would enhance care continuity and generate substantial long-term savings.