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Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO0978

US Racial Disparities in Kidney Failure Mortality Trends Across Sociodemographic Strata, 2018-2023

Session Information

Category: Diversity and Equity in Kidney Health

  • 900 Diversity and Equity in Kidney Health

Authors

  • Shah, Dhruvil K., Western Reserve Health Education, Warren, Ohio, United States
  • Patel, Ishan, Smt. NHL Medical College, Ahmedabad, India
  • Sakariya, Dhrumil, Davao Medical School Foundation Poblacion District, Davao, Philippines
  • Bhatt, Manas, Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, India
  • Patel, Vishva Chandrakant, GMERS Medical College and Civil Hospital, Sola, Ahmedabad, India
  • Patel, Ker Sureshbhai, Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research, Surat, India
  • Desai, Hardik Dineshbhai, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuj, India
Background

Despite advancements in renal care, racial disparities in kidney failure mortality persist in the U.S. Disaggregating mortality trends by sex, geography, and socioeconomic strata within each racial group is critical for informing equitable public health strategies.

Methods

We used CDC WONDER data from 2018–2023 to calculate annualized percentage change (APC) in age-adjusted kidney failure mortality rates. APCs were computed using a log-linear model and stratified by race, then further by sex, U.S. census region, urbanization, education level, and age group.

Results

Overall, the highest APCs were observed among American Indian/Alaskan Native (+10.67% in age 55–64), Multiracial (+5.6%), and Black (+5.4% in rural males) populations. Within each race, males consistently showed 1.3–2× higher APCs than females. In micropolitan and non-core areas, mortality increased notably among Black (+5.4%) and Multiracial groups. Educational disparity was stark: Native Americans with < high school education had an APC of +4.8%, compared to –1.3% in Asian females with higher education. Age-wise, American Indian/Alaskan Native individuals aged 55–64 and 75–84 had the sharpest rises (+10.67%, +5.59%), while mortality declined in those aged 85+ (–5.92%).

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that racial disparities in kidney failure mortality are compounded by age, geography, and education. The highest mortality growth among middle-aged Native and Multiracial adults calls for early, race-conscious intervention strategies focused on rural and underserved communities.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)