Source: National Kidney Foundation
This year’s theme for National Kidney Month is KIDNEY EQUITY FOR ALL™. Health disparities continue to plague underserved populations and impact the kidney patient’s journey. KIDNEY EQUITY FOR ALL™ is a patient-focused, community-minded movement dedicated to ensuring ALL kidney patients have access to high-quality, patient-centered kidney care from the moment of diagnosis to transplantation.
“Black and Hispanic populations have the most significant kidney disease burden and the highest rates of kidney disease mortality,” said National Kidney Foundation (NKF) President Sylvia Rosas, MD. “Despite this, they are exposed to inequities in kidney care including evaluation and obtaining a kidney transplant. It is imperative that health leaders prioritize actions to promote and achieve equity in kidney care.”
To mark National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day, the NKF is highlighting several ways the organization is promoting kidney equity.
Kidney Risk Quiz: The NKF’s Kidney Risk Quiz at MinuteForYourKidneys.org has empowered over 400,000 Black/African American and Hispanic individuals to understand their risk of kidney disease, with over 700,000 people of diverse backgrounds participating. By taking a few minutes to complete the quiz, individuals can potentially save lives and safeguard their kidney health.
Proposed Removal of Race from the Kidney Disease Risk Index (KDRI): The KDRI is a formula that estimates the risk of kidney failure after a recipient receives a donated kidney. Under the current equation, kidneys donated by African Americans are miscalculated as having poorer organ function than kidneys from White donors. Thanks to the NKF’s advocacy, the government has proposed removing the race qualifier from the risk index. Once implemented, this policy will increase the number of kidneys utilized for transplant.
Assuring Equitable Access to Transplant: Under the previous race-inclusive Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), Black and African American patients were often denied access to the transplant waitlist because the old equation over-estimated their kidney function. Our work helped lead the Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) to require all transplant hospitals in the U.S. to use a new race-free equation. As part of the change, transplant programs reexamined their waiting lists, and, where appropriate, modified wait times for adult and pediatric Black or African American candidates affected by the previous race-inclusive eGFR calculations.
Increased Screening for Priority Populations: Through initiatives like the CKDIntercept program, the NKF has partnered with insurers, healthcare professionals, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to implement targeted screening programs for high-risk populations. The success of these programs has prompted further investment and expansion.
Coast to Coast Initiatives for Kidney Health: Through the CKDIntercept program, the NKF partnered with insurers, providers, and FQHCs for a targeted pilot program aimed at some of the highest-risk patient populations. In just one city (St. Louis, MO), the NKF’s work led to about 5,000 Healthy.io test kits being distributed. The outcomes of this program are so promising that the NKF was awarded an additional grant to replicate this program in other FQHCs.
“The NKF is leading the way to make sure all Americans have high-quality kidney care – from diagnosis to dialysis care, to transplant and beyond,” said Kevin Longino NKF CEO and transplant recipient. “We are committed to creating a community where there is KIDNEY EQUITY FOR ALL™.”
Hyperkalemia
AstraZeneca, a proud Partner in Health of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, has released a new infographic on a treatment option for hyperkalemia associated with ACEi or ARB therapy in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.