Targeting the Uneven Burden of Kidney Disease on Black Americans

Inequalities in Kidney Health by Race and Ethnicity

It is estimated that 33 percent of adult Americans could develop renal disease.

A third of the population, you’re right.

Kidney disease is more common in people of African descent, Hispanic or Latino descent, Asian or Pacific Islander descent, American Indian or Alaska Native descent, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent.

Targeting the Uneven Burden of Kidney Disease on Black Americans

Kidney failure is over three times as common in Black or African Americans as it is in White Americans, and it is 1.3 times as common in Hispanic or Latino Americans.

High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease all raise the risk for renal disease and are disproportionately prevalent in minority communities. The availability of medical care could also be a factor.

Diagnosing and learning about kidney disease risk factors before symptoms appear is crucial. Everyone, but especially those who are at risk, should get tested often.

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When do Kidneys Start to Fail?

There are numerous roles that require healthy kidneys. They aid in the elimination of toxins and the removal of excess water, the production of red blood cells, the maintenance of healthy bones, and the regulation of blood pressure.

Damage to the kidneys prevents them from performing these functions normally in people with renal disease. Diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as other medical issues, can also cause damage to the kidneys.

Kidney disease can require a wide range of treatments, including medication, dietary restrictions (such as a reduction in salt and certain foods), frequent exercise, and more.

Early detection and treatment of kidney illness can prevent or significantly decrease the disease’s progression. However, renal failure can occur if the illness progresses unchecked. If your kidneys fail, you can only maintain your life via dialysis or a transplant.

This Kidney Disease, If it Exists, may it Affect Anyone?

Kidney illness can affect people of any age. Some folks are just genetically predisposed to getting it.

The five most important causes of renal disease are as follows:

• Diabetes (you or your family)
• Hypertension is a state of abnormally (you or your family)
• Coronary illness (you or your family)
• Inheritance of high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease
• Obesity

Kidney disease risk factors include:

People of colour (including but not limited to Black/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans/Alaska Natives, and other Pacific Islanders

• People of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Descent
• Those over the age of 60
• A low birth weight
• Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen over an extended period of time
• autoimmune diseases like lupus
• Repeated UTIs
• Urinary calculi

The first step toward a healthier lifestyle is learning your personal risk for developing kidney disease. Knowing your risk is now simpler than ever before.

Our Kidney Risk Quiz only takes a minute to complete and will tell you if you are at risk for developing kidney disease.

The Question is why Minorities have a Higher Incidence of Kidney Illness.

Diabetic prevalence is higher among some minority groups than among White Americans. Specifically, 13.2% of Hispanic or Latino adults and 13.3% of Black or African American adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. Native Americans from the United States of America and Canada have a rate of diabetes that is twice that of white people. Developing renal damage and eventually losing kidney function are complications of diabetes.

Between 2000 and 2010, the incidence of diabetic kidney disease in Asian Americans aged 30 to 39 increased by a factor of two. Hispanics and Latinos are disproportionately affected by the renal complications of diabetes.

Minorities are disproportionately affected by high blood pressure. One of the highest rates in the world, more than one-third of Blacks and African Americans suffer from high blood pressure. One-quarter of Hispanics and Laotians suffer from hypertension, and most are unaware that this condition can lead to renal failure.

What Role does Access to Healthcare Play?

There may be a disparity in healthcare availability between minority and majority communities in the United States. Studies indicated that approximately one-third of American Indians and Alaska Natives lacked health insurance, while one-fifth of Blacks lacked coverage.

In minority groups, kidney disease is often misdiagnosed until it has progressed to an advanced state. After that point, more kidney injury cannot be prevented.

How can I keep My Kidneys Healthy?

Kidney illness is not uniformly experienced by people of colour. In addition, not everyone who is diabetic, hypertensive, has heart disease, is elderly, or has a first-degree relative with kidney failure will develop the condition themselves. However, if you have any of the following risk factors:

Check yourself for renal problems.

Tests for renal illness are both quick and easy.

• The presence of protein in the urine can be determined using a simple test. Protein is vital to your health. However, it shouldn’t be in the pee but rather the blood. A low protein urine level may indicate that your kidneys are not functioning properly. This may indicate that renal disease is beginning to develop.
• The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is easily measured with a blood test. Knowing your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can provide insight into your kidney health. The GFR is estimated with a simple blood test for creatinine (a waste product), your age, and your race and gender.

Have your blood checked for conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure,

and coronary illness. There are a number of serious health conditions that can go undetected for a long time.

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Practice healthful habits. Maintain a healthy weight (if necessary), get regular exercise, don’t smoke, and drink moderately. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to prevent kidney disease and may also help slow or halt its progression if you already have it. Learn how to safeguard your kidney health by following our six simple steps.