Black History Month: Treating chronic kidney disease

This Black History Month, we highlight chronic kidney disease (CKD), one of the most urgent and persistent health inequities among Black Americans. According to the National Kidney Foundation, Black Americans are “more than 3 times as likely to have kidney failure compared to white Americans.”

Besides genetics, other factors prevalent in the Black communities can lead to greater risks of kidney disease. These include higher rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as concerning social drivers of health, such as economic instability and food insecurity.

What you can do

Traditionally lower utilization and less access to health care in Black communities mean kidney disease can go undiagnosed until it reaches the critical stage of kidney failure. Earn credits applicable to your field while learning how you can help reduce the risk of kidney disease in Black communities:

• Chronic Kidney Disease: Advancing Strategies to Prevent Progression
• Tackling Chronic Kidney Disease: Emerging Therapies and Diagnostics