Over 35 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some populations are at higher risk for developing CKD, including Hispanics. Currently, about 14% of Hispanics are living with kidney disease. The higher rate for this group is due to higher rates of various other conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney problems.
Other conditions that can lead to CKD include:
- Inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units.
- Inflammation of the kidney’s tubules and surrounding structures.
- Polycystic kidney disease.
- Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract.
- Vesicoureteral reflux (when urine backs up into kidneys).
- Recurrent kidney infection.
The effects of CKD can create excess amounts of fluid, electrolytes, and waste to build up, which can have serious health implications. Without appropriate treatment, CKD can turn into end-stage kidney failure (ESRD), when the kidneys no longer work as they are supposed to. Dialysis or a transplant is then required.
A Look at the Numbers
Hispanic adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than their white counterparts. About 50% of Hispanic adults have high blood pressure, though they tend to have less awareness about and receive treatment for this condition compared to the white population. Additionally, almost 45% of Hispanic adults have obesity, which is a condition that can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure.
Various social determinants of health (SDOH) can affect health conditions, outcomes, and risks. For example, Hispanics generally have lower education levels, lower rates of health insurance coverage, and lower household incomes, which can make a difference in overall health. They may also encounter language or cultural barriers. For example:
- The percentage of Hispanics age 25+ with a high school education is 73.1% compared to 94.2% of non-Hispanic whites.
- Almost 17% of Hispanics don’t have health insurance compared to 5.3% of non-Hispanic whites.
- The median 12-month household income of Hispanic households was $65,882 versus $80,404 for non-Hispanic households.
CKD also tends to progress faster in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic white people. The reasons for this faster progression include differences in care along with SDOH. One of the main causes of the progression of CKD in Hispanics is diabetes-associated proteinuria, a condition when there is an elevated level of protein in urine.
Kidney Failure
Hispanics also experience kidney failure at twice the rate of non-Hispanic white people, but are less likely to receive a transplant even though they are often younger and healthier than their white counterparts. One possible reason is that Hispanics needing a transplant tend to be heavier than their white counterparts, and there are restrictions related to weight and transplantation.
Additionally, twice as many Hispanics as white people lack a primary care provider who could refer them to a nephrologist. Hispanics also often have less knowledge in general about kidney transplants as compared to whites. In addition, Hispanics usually often have less access to transplantation in general than the white population.
Hispanics face a higher burden of CKD than many other groups and are likely to have faster progression of CKD. Various factors, including SDOH, contribute to these differences. CKD in this population requires culturally competent care along with additional support, particularly as it relates to SDOH.
References
Kidney Disease Surveillance System
Overweight & Obesity Statistics
Desai, Nisa, Lora, Claudia M., Lash, James P., and Ricardo, Ana C. CKD and ESRD in US Hispanics
Eastman, Alex. Hypertension in Hispanic Populations: Your Guide to High Blood Pressure
Addressing health disparities in hypertension control
Kidney Disease in Hispanic/Latino Communities: Causes and Prevention
Pereira, Rocio L. and Cervantes, Lilia. Reducing the Burden of CKD among Latinx