ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2022 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2022, please visit the archives.

Abstract: TH-PO737

Impact of Advancing American Kidney Health on Access to Kidney Transplant

Session Information

Category: Diversity and Equity in Kidney Health

  • 800 Diversity and Equity in Kidney Health

Authors

  • Ng Sueng, Luis, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
  • Peracha, Nawal, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
  • Wu, Andrew, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
  • Khoury, Nadeen J., Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
  • Samaniego-Picota, Milagros D., Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
  • Jesse, Michelle, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
  • Shrivastava, Pritika, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Background

In July 2019, the US Federal Government launched the executive order (EO) Advancing American Kidney Health (AAKH). The focus of this EO was to reduce kidney failure rates and increase rates of kidney transplant. Herein, we explore the impact of the EO on referral (REF), evaluation (EVAL), waitlist (WL), and kidney transplants (T) across racial groups before and after the signing of AAKH.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of all patients referred for kidney transplant evaluation at a large, urban healthcare system in Detroit, MI. To ensure equal pre-post timeframes, data collected from all patients referred within 30 months pre- (1/1/2017-6/30/2019) and post-EO (10/1/2019-3/31/2022). Patients referred in the three months immediate post-EO (7/1/2019-9/30/2019) were excluded to account for system-level adjustment to the EO. Data extracted via existing internal systems included patient race/ethnicity, gender, frequency and dates of events (i.e., REF, EVAL, WL, and T). An event was coded each time a patient was referred for possible evaluation and categorized as the furthest step achieved (i.e., REF, EVAL, WL, T).

Results

A total of 4949 unique patients were identified, though 673 patients had more than one event. Patients were predominantly male (60.4%) and Black (50.8%), followed by White (37.4%) and Other (11.7%). There were significantly greater increases in referrals and evaluations for Black patients compared to White and Other racial categories. Since local average wait time for kidney transplant is >30 months, EO impact on transplant may be too early to assess. WL and T was equitable across groups. Table 1 reports on frequency of events across racial groups pre- to post-EO.

Conclusion

Since the passage of EO, minority populations may have better access to kidney transplant, as noted by increase in referrals and evaluation.