Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO0110

Perceived Understanding of APOL1 Genetic Testing in Black Individuals: Associations with Demographic Traits and Health-Related Beliefs

Session Information

• Hereditary Glomerular and Tubulointerstitial Kidney Diseases
  October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Genetic Diseases of the Kidneys

• 1202 Genetic Diseases of the Kidneys: Non-Cystic (Complex and Non-Cystic Monogenic)

Authors

• Mansuri, Rushda Faruk, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Rushda Faruk Mansuri, MBBS, MPH

• Schnitzler, Mark, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Mark Schnitzler, PhD

• Elsurer Afsar, Rengin, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Rengin Elsurer Afsar, MD

• Xiao, Huiling, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Huiling Xiao, MS

• Clair, Bryan, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Bryan Clair, PhD

• Memon, Aliza Anwar, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Aliza Anwar Memon, MD

• Miyata, Kana, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Kana Miyata, MD, FASN

• Edwards, John C., Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

John C. Edwards, MD, PhD

• Afsar, Baris, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Baris Afsar, MD

• Abu Al Rub, Fadee, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Fadee Abu Al Rub, MD

• Carriker, Amber, Mid-America Transplant Services, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Amber Carriker

• Hsu, Chi-yuan, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Chi-yuan Hsu, MD, MSc, FASN

• Muiru, Anthony N., University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Anthony N. Muiru, MD, MPH

• Freedman, Barry I., Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Barry I. Freedman, MD

• Philipneri, Marie D., John J Cochran Veterans Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Marie D. Philipneri, MD, PhD

• Aydin, Orhun, Mid-America Transplant Services, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Orhun Aydin, PhD

• Caliskan, Yasar, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Yasar Caliskan, MD

• Lentine, Krista L., Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Krista L. Lentine, MD, PhD, FASN

Group or Team Name

• St. Louis APOL1 Study Collaborators

Background

Limited understanding of APOL1 genetic testing may represent important barriers to patient participation in genetic testing and kidney care among Black individuals.

Methods

We investigated the perceived understanding of APOL1 genetic testing and its association with patient traits and health-related beliefs in a unique cohort of Black individuals who underwent APOL1 testing between January 2019 and 2/28/26 at one Midwestern U.S. hospital (NCT05656261). Participants completed a baseline survey and demographic characteristics were obtained from medical records. Logistic regression identified factors associated with perceived understanding of APOL1 genetic testing at baseline.

Results

Among 317 participants (mean age 57.6±13.4 years; 57.7% male), 15.5% had a high-risk APOL1 genotype. Participants ≥65 years had lower perceived understanding of APOL1 testing (OR, 0.49; p=0.02), whereas women had higher perceived understanding (OR, 1.79; p=0.04). Compared with high school graduates, perceived understanding was higher among participants with some college education (OR, 2.45; p=0.003) and lower education levels (OR, 3.12; p=0.01). Greater perceived understanding was associated with beliefs that genetics influence kidney disease risk (OR, 3.16; p=0.01), kidney disease is preventable (OR, 2.55; p=0.02), self-detectable (OR, 2.28; p=0.005), and genetic testing is useful for risk assessment (OR, 3.64; p=0.02). Participants reporting medication changes if APOL1 testing showed no increased risk were more likely to report understanding (OR, 3.17; p=0.01), while those reporting medication changes if testing showed increased risk were less likely to report understanding (OR, 0.51; p=0.03).

Conclusion

Perceived understanding of APOL1 genetic testing is linked to demographic factors, education, health beliefs, and behavior and medication changes, highlighting the need for targeted education and culturally responsive counseling to support kidney care in Black individuals.

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by grant from the Mid-America Transplant Foundation. St. Louis APOL1 Study Collaborators include: Ezequiel Bellorin Font, MD, Ava DeLonais- Parker, BS, Nourhan Houjeij,MD, Kevin Lee, MPA, Kunal Malhotra, MD, Rushda Mansuri, MD, MPH, Marilyn Maxwell, MD, Mowafaq Said, MD, Farzana Hoque, MD, Amy Mosman, PA, Anne Buganski, RN, Mary Lesko, RN, Kenan Li, PhD, Enbal Shacham, PhD

Funding

• Private Foundation Support