Demographic and epidemiologic transition in the developing world: role of albuminuria in the early diagnosis and prevention of renal and cardiovascular disease

The developing world is facing a real pandemic of renal and cardiovascular disease. With the decrease of infectious disease morbidity and mortality, and the exposure to more westernized life style, signs of increasing renal and cardiovascular disease is particularly shown in the tremendous rise in type 2 diabetes and its sequelae. A group of doctors and scientists from all over the world have convened in Bellagio to halt this dramatic disease change and burden to the developing countries. They came to the conclusion that screening and treatment should clearly focus on cost-beneficial strategies, among which blood pressure and urinary albumin measurement, as well as effective and affordable treatment strategies to lower blood pressure and albuminuria, are essential.