Chronic disease awareness isn’t just helpful, it can be life-changing. That’s the driving message behind a new health education effort called “It Takes 2” from Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, who are collaborating to elevate awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the importance of early, complete testing.
The campaign was launched last year in December, and Boehringer and Lilly released a new multichannel news release for it this year.
CKD affects more than 35 million adults in the US alone, yet a staggering 90% are unaware they have the condition.
CKD often progresses silently, producing few symptoms until the disease has advanced, at which point treatment options are more limited and the risk of serious complications, including cardiovascular events and kidney failure, is significantly higher.
People with certain health conditions, especially type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, are among the most at risk. These two factors account for up to two-thirds of CKD cases, making regular screening essential for early identification.
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To tackle this public health challenge, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly launched “It Takes 2,” a health initiative that encourages both patients and healthcare providers to prioritize complete CKD testing. The “It Takes 2” campaign is centered on awareness and action, emphasizing two specific tests for early detection and the importance of the relationship between two important players: patients and healthcare providers.
Testing for CKD includes an eGFR blood test, which estimates how well the kidneys filter waste from the blood, and a UACR urine test that detects albumin protein in urine, an early sign of kidney damage.
While the eGFR test is often included in routine panels, the UACR test isn’t always ordered unless prompted. According to data highlighted in the campaign, less than 20% of at-risk individuals received both recommended tests between 2013 and 2019, leaving many with undiagnosed disease. In addition to the eGFR blood test, the UACR urine test may also help provide insight into the risk for cardiovascular disease.
The core message of It Takes 2 is that knowledge empowers patients to advocate for their health, and collaboration with a clinician is essential to detecting CKD early and taking action.
The campaign has a website that features personal narratives from both patients and healthcare providers.
A campaign video features CKD patient and advocate Thelma, a two-time kidney transplant recipient whose own diagnosis journey spanned nearly a decade despite long-standing symptoms. She now works to increase visibility for CKD and emphasize the importance of early detection, especially for historically underserved populations.
Along with messaging for patients, the initiative also includes communications for physicians. Alongside Thelma, the new campaign video features Dr. Charles Vega, a primary care physician and director of UC Irvine’s Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community, who reinforces the clinical importance of guideline-based testing to fully evaluate kidney health and related cardiovascular risk.
In the video, Thelma highlights the important “2s” in the “It Takes 2” campaign: the partnership of patients with their doctors and the two tests, the blood test and the urine test.
The two tests will show where you are from a kidney status, but also if you’re at risk for cardiovascular disease, Thelma explains.
“As a clinician, I want to hear from my patients,” says Dr. Vega. “We have a discussion back and forth, and sometimes I find my patients have the best ideas as you’re the experts in you.”
Dr. Vega also explains how symptoms of CKD present later in the course of the disease, which is why most patients don’t know they have it until it’s “too late.” He also emphasizes that diabetes and hypertension are the two main risk factors for CKD, and the importance of testing for CKD annually using both a blood test and urine test.
The “Knowledge is Power” theme of the initiative reflects the belief that awareness can change outcomes. Because CKD may go unnoticed until late stages, encouraging people, particularly those with diabetes or hypertension, to understand their risk and request comprehensive screening can lead to earlier diagnosis, better management and a reduction in long-term complications.
By empowering individuals to take ownership of their health and fostering stronger patient-provider dialogues, the initiative aims to transform how CKD is detected and managed across at-risk populations.
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