Abstract

In the United States, there are significant racial disparities in the incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease. The disparities are greatest for the Blacks and the magnitude of disparity is significantly greater than is evident from the incidence and prevalence data of end-stage renal disease – early stage chronic kidney disease is less common in Blacks and during that stage, mortality rate is significantly higher for that racial group. Recent studies have identified a genetic predisposition for non-diabetic renal disease among Blacks. However, genetic factors explain only part of the higher risk and the racial disparities are a result of a complex interplay of biology and sociology. Herein we focus on two factors and their role in explaining the higher risk for progression of chronic kidney disease among Blacks – one biologic (vitamin D deficiency) and one sociologic (neighborhood poverty). A greater Understanding of these factors is important in order to reduce the racial disparities in the United States.

Author Details

Authors

• R. Mehrotra¹
• ²
• K. Norris²
• ³

Departments

• ¹ Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Center at Harbor-UCLA, Torrance,
• ² Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,
• ³ Office of Research, Charles R. Drew University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Rights / Permissions

This section will be available soon