A simple urine test, blood pressure measurement, a consultation with a specialist. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes to detect an invisible enemy like chronic kidney disease, which affects millions of people worldwide without showing obvious symptoms until organ function is already compromised.
To reverse this trend, on the occasion of World Kidney Day, the Nefrocenter Group – an organisation active in nephrology, diabetology and the treatment of metabolic diseases – has organised a day of prevention free that will involve several Italian regions, with particular attention to Campania.
Widespread screening: from the streets to the clinics
The initiative will take place on the morning of Wednesday, March 12th, at all Nefrocenter dialysis centers in Campania, Lazio, and Liguria. But the heart of the Campania event will beat in Frattamaggiore, near Naples, where a dedicated stand will be set up in Piazza Umberto I. Here, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., access will be free, and citizens will be able to undergo basic screenings.
"This will be a further opportunity to bring prevention closer to citizens and promote a culture of kidney health," explain the Group's management.
In the afternoon, the service will move to some affiliated clinics, where reservations are required. Here are the locations and times:
San Giuseppe Vesuviano (NA)Santa Lucia Health Center (12.30 – 18.00)
Naples: International Hospital Nursing Home (15.00 pm – 18.00 pm)
Mugnano of Naples (NA)Villa dei Fiori (14.30pm – 18.00pm)
RomeAmerican Hospital and Villa Anna Maria Nursing Home (9.00 – 18.00)
Not just kidneys: the multidisciplinary approach
The screening offered will not be limited to assessing kidney function. The goal is broader: at all clinical locations, the checkup package will also include nutritional counseling and body composition assessment using bioimpedance analysis (BIA).
A multidisciplinary approach that aims to investigate metabolic factors—such as diet and body composition—that play a crucial role in kidney health. Moreover, the kidneys' main enemies are often linked to lifestyle and common diseases: diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are among the main risk factors for the development of chronic kidney disease.
Early diagnosis as a shield
"For years, the Nefrocenter Group has been committed to the research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney disease," a statement reads. This commitment will be made concrete on March 12th with the offering of simple but essential tests: nephrological examinations, urinalysis, and blood pressure measurements.
The goal is to identify early changes that, if left untreated, can lead to severe complications and disease progression requiring dialysis or transplantation. Early intervention means adopting appropriate behaviors—in nutrition, blood pressure control, and diabetes management—that can slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life.
Reservations are required to undergo screening at the afternoon clinics (in Campania and Rome). At all locations, except the stand in the square, patients must collect and deliver their urine sample for testing in a special container.
It seems like a useful initiative to me, but there are several things that need to be clarified, such as changing times and booking, which seems complicated. Many people don't know how to bring or deliver the urine sample. The organization should be clearer. Let's hope everything goes well.