AI-driven screening programs aim to detect chronic kidney disease earlier, prevent progression, and reach millions worldwide
Carna Health, a digital health company focused on transforming kidney care and cardio-kidney metabolic (CKM) disease management, has announced the expansion of its global chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening programs in recognition of World Kidney Day. The initiative leverages AI in healthcare and early detection technologies to identify kidney disease in its early stages and connect patients with timely treatment before progression to advanced conditions.
Chronic kidney disease remains a major global health challenge, often going undiagnosed until later stages when treatment becomes more complex and costly. Carna Health’s technology-enabled screening programs are designed to close this gap by combining AI-driven risk assessment, point-of-care diagnostics, and integrated follow-up care pathways within national healthcare systems.
Salvatore Viscomi, MD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Carna Health, emphasised the organisation’s global mission to improve early detection and patient outcomes. He noted that structured screening programs supported by digital health technology can identify CKD earlier, prevent progression to end-stage kidney disease, and expand access to high-quality kidney care worldwide.
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Carna Health’s early success began in Bermuda, where its flagship screening initiative launched in 2023. A pilot program revealed that 49 per cent of individuals screened had previously undiagnosed CKD, while 94 per cent were unaware of their condition. Approximately 20 per cent required referral to nephrology specialists and pharmaceutical treatment, highlighting the impact of early detection in preventing severe kidney complications.
Following the pilot’s success, Bermuda’s Ministry of Health established a CKD Integrated Care Pathway to institutionalise nationwide screening and coordinated care. Building on this model, Carna Health has expanded its programs to Antigua and Barbuda, focusing on community-based engagement and national health integration.
In Africa, the company has scaled its screening initiatives in Cameroon, where an initial pilot evolved into a national program involving more than 35,000 participants. Data from the program revealed that 19 per cent of participants had Stage 3–5 CKD, with over half requiring follow-up clinical care. A notable finding was the significant proportion of younger adults aged 20–30 affected by kidney disease, highlighting emerging public health concerns related to hypertension, diabetes, heat stress, and other risk factors.
Phase II of the Cameroon initiative aims to reach an additional 75,000 individuals, while a new pilot program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will screen 10,000 participants. These efforts demonstrate how structured, AI-enabled health screening models can scale across diverse healthcare environments.
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Carna Health is also expanding into Southeast Asia, beginning in the Philippines. Screening programs in Manila, Quezon, and Cagayan are expected to reach more than 300,000 individuals across both public and private healthcare systems. The company plans to extend similar initiatives to Indonesia later this year.
Across the Americas, Carna Health is preparing prevention and early detection programs aimed at identifying CKD earlier in both urban and rural populations. In the United States, the company is working with healthcare systems, academic institutions, and public health organisations to deploy scalable population-level screening programs. In Latin America, Carna Health aims to enroll more than 500,000 individuals over the next 18 to 24 months.
Professor Liz Lightstone, Professor of Renal Medicine at Imperial College London, highlighted the importance of early detection strategies in improving health outcomes. She noted that integrating AI-enabled screening with community-based healthcare services can significantly reduce disease progression and improve equity in kidney care access.
By expanding these global screening initiatives, Carna Health is advancing a proactive healthcare model that prioritises early diagnosis, technology-enabled care coordination, and preventive treatment strategies for chronic kidney disease.
Health Technology Insights: https://healthtechnologyinsights.com/how-health-technology-is-redefining-detection-and-care-delivery/
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