Why Black Americans Are at Greater Risk of Kidney Failure Than Other Races

One out of three people with kidney failure in the United States is African American. Though this is a discouraging statistic, it highlights how crucial it is for Black people to prevent chronic kidney disease, which is the root cause of kidney failure.

You can’t wait for signs of kidney disease. By then, it’s in an advanced stage.

You can protect your health by meeting with Deon Middlebrook, MD, an African American nephrologist (kidney specialist), before problems arise.

At his Detroit practice, Deon D. Middlebrook MDPC, he specializes in protecting your kidney health, assessing your risks, offering preventive care, and providing customized treatments to avoid kidney failure.

Here, he explains kidney failure and why African Americans are more likely to face this life-threatening condition.

How kidney failure develops

Chronic kidney disease progresses to cause kidney failure. However, the problem begins when health conditions injure your kidneys and the damaged tissues can’t heal. Instead, they turn into scar tissue that can’t work like healthy kidneys.

Without treatment, kidney disease keeps getting worse, damaging more tissues. Chronic kidney disease gradually progresses to the point where you have more scar tissue than functioning tissues. That’s when your kidneys stop working, and you have kidney failure.

After your kidneys fail, you only have two treatment options: dialysis and a kidney transplant.

Why African Americans are at risk of kidney failure

African Americans are more likely to develop kidney failure compared to other races because of the following three reasons:

Reason 1: Diabetes or high blood pressure

Diabetes causes nearly half of all cases of kidney failure, and high blood pressure (hypertension) accounts for one-fourth, making them the two top causes.

Both diseases damage the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys, limiting the blood supply and leading to tissue damage and scarring.

Unfortunately, Black people are more likely to have one or both conditions. These facts tell the story:

• One out of nine African Americans have diabetes (compared to one in 13 white people)
• Half of all African Americans have high blood pressure
• Black people with hypertension are six times more likely to have kidney failure compared to white people

Despite this bleak picture, these diseases are not inevitable. In nearly all cases, you can prevent them by following a healthy lifestyle.

Reason 2: Genetic tendencies

Chronic kidney disease (and, subsequently, kidney failure) often runs in families. Most inherited kidney disorders are rare, but a particular gene variation associated with kidney disease occurs in African Americans more often than other races.

This genetic condition, APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD), raises the risk of kidney disease and accelerates the progression to kidney failure.

However, having AMKD doesn’t guarantee you’ll end up with kidney disease or failure. We can recommend ways to lower your risk.

Reason 3: Limited access to quality health care

There are many reasons African Americans find it difficult to get quality kidney care, including not living near a kidney doctor or having a primary care provider who doesn’t recommend a specialist. We’re here to provide exceptional, culturally sensitive care.

Lifestyle habits contribute to kidney failure

The best way to avoid chronic kidney disease is preventing Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. These chronic conditions develop over years of unhealthy habits.

If you have any of the following, your chances of diabetes and hypertension skyrocket:

Being overweight or obese

Carrying extra weight is a significant cause of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. Being overweight is another factor that increases the risk of kidney failure in African Americans. Black people have higher rates of obesity compared to other races.

Following an unhealthy diet

Excessive calories lead to weight gain. Sugary foods and white bread, rice, and pasta are major causes of Type 2 diabetes. Consuming too much salt and too few potassium-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, and fish) contributes to hypertension.

Following a balanced diet and watching your calories are vital for losing weight and preventing chronic diseases.

Living a sedentary life

Exercising 30 minutes daily at least five days a week helps you lose weight and dramatically lowers your risk of the diseases responsible for kidney disease and failure. Regular exercise also energizes your body, boosts your brain power, and lifts your mood.

Learn about your risks for kidney disease

Call our office or request an appointment online to find out if you’re at risk of kidney disease or to learn more about preventing chronic diseases.