The percentage of Veterans receiving albuminuria testing increased from 7.2% in 2006 to 15.4% in 2022. Albuminuria testing is higher among older Veterans except for those aged ≥70 years. More male than female Veterans received albuminuria testing (16.8% vs. 7.2%, 2022). Non-Hispanic White Veterans received slightly less albuminuria testing compared to other racial/ethnic groups (16.0% compared to > 16.5%). The percentage of albuminuria testing is approximately five times higher for Veterans with diabetes than those without diabetes. Veterans with hypertension were approximately 2.5 times more likely to receive albuminuria testing than those without hypertension.
To view the frequency of albuminuria testing among U.S. Veterans by risk categories, select from the drop-down menu below. Risk categories include Overall, Age, Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Diabetes, and Hypertension.
This indicator does not consider labs that the clinician ordered but the patient did not complete. Data are not adjusted.
VHA is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites. VHA serves over 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. National VHA data were examined for Veterans with at least one outpatient visit during the federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). Medical conditions were defined by ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes on at least one outpatient claim.
Urine albumin testing rates among users of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
VHA national data, using the MedSAS data and the CDW LabChem files.
Patients ≥ 18 years in VHA with at least one outpatient visit within the fiscal year.
2006–2022.
Patients aged ≥ 18 years who had a laboratory result for urine albumin to creatinine ratio within the fiscal year.
Patients aged ≥ 18 years who had at least one outpatient visit during the fiscal year.
Urine albumin result divided by urine creatinine result in random urine.
Diabetes status determined by inpatient or outpatient diagnosis (ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM code), outpatient lab test results for HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or random glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL or filling an outpatient prescription for diabetes medication through the VHA pharmacy.
Hypertension is determined by inpatient or outpatient ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM code or filling a prescription for antihypertensive medication through the VHA pharmacy.
Not all Veterans use VHA.