According to a study, tests that are used to assess kidney function can also help predict risk for a stroke or heart attack in a patient. The study has been published in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. According to Lead author of this study, Dr. Kunihiro Matsushita, "If health care providers have data on kidney damage and kidney function - which they often do - they should be using those data to better understand a patient's risk of cardiovascular disease".

Matsushita added that the study says that the information that they are collecting, could be utilized in a better way. Serum creatinine and an albumin test are two common tests that are used by doctors to see a patient's kidney function. Kidney function is determined in the creatinine test by finding out if the creatinine level is between 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL. The kidneys are not working properly if the level is higher than 1.2 mg/dL. The albumin test is done to observe if the body is absorbing enough protein.

An albumin test is done to test other things in addition to kidney function. After finding the results, the albumin test is used together with the creatinine test and a blood urea nitrogen test in order to assess if the kidneys are functioning properly. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is also observed so as to find out how the kidneys are filtering.

This study considered studies from the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium, in which the 637,315 participants were not having history of cardiovascular disease.