Carna Health Marks World Kidney Day with Scaling of CKD Screening Program to Four Continents

AI-driven screening programs aim to detect chronic kidney disease earlier, prevent progression, and reach millions worldwide

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carna Health, a digital health company revolutionizing kidney care and related cardio-kidney metabolic (CKM) conditions, announced the expansion of its global chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening programs on World Kidney Day. Leveraging AI-enabled early detection and follow-up care, Carna Health is scaling initiatives across multiple regions to identify CKD before it reaches advanced stages and connect patients with timely treatment.

“Since launching our first programs, we’ve seen how structured, technology-enabled screening can uncover CKD early and connect patients to care. As we expand into new regions and prepare for national programs in Latin America, Asia, and the U.S., our goal remains the same: identify CKD sooner, prevent end-stage kidney disease, and make high-quality kidney care accessible worldwide,” said Salvatore Viscomi, MD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Carna Health.

Caribbean: Bermuda Leads the Way

Carna Health’s earliest flagship program launched in Bermuda in 2023, beginning with a small pilot that uncovered high rates of previously undiagnosed CKD. Among those screened, 49 percent were identified with CKD, and 94 percent had not known about their condition. Approximately 20 percent required nephrology referral and pharmaceutical treatment, demonstrating the impact of early detection even within a small population setting.

Following this pilot, Bermuda’s Ministry of Health established a CKD Integrated Care Pathway in 2023, institutionalizing structured screening and care for the nation. Building on this success, Carna Health has expanded programs to Antigua and Barbuda, emphasizing rapid, high-coverage community engagement and integration into national health initiatives.

Africa: Expanding in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

In Cameroon, Carna Health’s initial pilot expanded into a national program enrolling 35,000 people. The pilot revealed that 19 percent of participants had Stage 3–5 CKD, with over half requiring follow-up care. Notably, adults aged 20–30 represented more than half of those screened, pointing to a growing burden among younger populations often overlooked in chronic disease programming. Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, heat stress, nephrotoxic supplements, and HIV were prevalent among those most affected.

Building on that foundation, Phase II in Cameroon targets an additional 75,000 people, while a 10,000-person pilot in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) extends the model into a new market. Together, these programs demonstrate that structured, technology-enabled chronic disease screening is not only feasible but scalable across diverse African health systems.

“In Cameroon, a large proportion of the population is at elevated risk of CKD, particularly due to the high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. Partnering with Carna Health enables earlier detection of kidney function damage and timely clinical management, helping to slow disease progression and reduce the burden of advanced kidney disease” said Dr. Malachie MANAOUDA Minister of Public Health in Cameroon.

Asia: Entering Southeast Asia

Carna Health’s expansion into Southeast Asia begins in the Philippines, where programs spanning both private and public healthcare settings, including the cities of Manila, Quezon, and the province of Cagayan, are expected to screen over 300,000 individuals. By combining AI-enabled risk scoring with point-of-care diagnostics and integration with participating health systems’ laboratory platforms, these initiatives aim to identify CKD earlier in communities where structured screening has historically been limited. The company plans to extend this model to Indonesia later in the year, with an initial target of 10,000 individuals.

Americas: Expanding Prevention and Early Detection

Carna Health is expanding its prevention programs across the Americas in 2026, bringing early detection and follow-up care to both urban and rural communities. These initiatives aim to integrate AI-enabled early detection and follow-up care into national health systems, applying lessons from prior global programs to identify CKD in previously undiagnosed individuals and enable earlier intervention.

In the U.S., Carna Health is developing partnerships with health systems, academic institutions, and public health organizations to deploy scalable, AI-enabled CKD screening and monitoring at the population level. In Latin America, the company is targeting enrollment of over 500,000 lives across the region in the next 18-24 months –a scale that reflects both the burden of undiagnosed CKD in the region and the proven capacity of Carna Health’s model to operate across diverse health systems.

“Earlier, structured detection of CKD is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes and close equity gaps,” said Professor Liz Lightstone, Professor of Renal Medicine, Imperial College London. “Carna Health’s approach demonstrates what’s possible when AI-enabled screening is integrated into community-based care. I look forward to seeing these programs expand globally and improving outcomes worldwide.”

About Carna Health

Carna Health is a digital health company transforming kidney care. Founded in 2021, Carna Health’s mission is to slow the global progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Carna Health provides integrated point-of-care testing solutions and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software to improve CKD screening, monitoring, and care management. For more information, visit the company’s website www.carna.health.