At the 8th Annual Women of Color in Pharma (WOCIP) Conference, Clarkston’s Erica Parks Murray connected with dozens of industry experts – from physicians and clinical professionals to scientists and researchers – to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities driving unity in the life sciences industry. This article reflects her takeaways on closing disparity gaps to ensure kidney health equity for all.   

Approximately 800,000 individuals in the U.S. suffer from kidney failure, with two-thirds relying on dialysis. While African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans are not inherently more susceptible to kidney disease, they are disproportionately affected by kidney failure. These groups, representing a smaller percentage of the overall population, make up a significant portion of those requiring dialysis. This disparity highlights the need to understand the factors that contribute to this outcome, particularly between the onset of kidney disease and the progression to kidney failure 

This disparity is driven by factors such as genetic predisposition, socioeconomic factors, and systemic inequities in healthcare access. 

How to Close Disparity Gaps 

During the session “Kidney Health Equity and Transplants for All,” speakers Kemi Osundina, PharmD, MS, Mei Acuña, Morgan Reid, MSJ, and LaVarne Burton discussed kidney health equity and how organizations can close disparity gaps. Here are some key takeaways:

1. The Importance of Early Detection

Early detection of kidney disease is crucial for preventing progression to kidney failure. Advocating for routine kidney function tests can significantly improve outcomes. In fact, 90% of people do not know they have kidney disease. The easy solution? We already give urine during doctors’ visits, so include a screen for chronic kidney disease.

2. Living Organ Donations

Living organ donation is a life-saving option for many kidney failure patients. However, there are significant barriers to donation, including misconceptions and logistical challenges. Policy changes and increased awareness, however, can encourage more people to consider living donation.  

Another option people often don’t know about is kidney swapping. One panelist shared a story about her father who was suffering from kidney failure, and she donated hers. She shared that, fortunately, she was a direct match for her father. However, she was unaware of the advanced kidney exchange programs available. These programs facilitate kidney swaps between incompatible donor-recipient pairs, enabling more individuals to receive life-saving transplants. The hospital where her father’s surgery took place had successfully coordinated a complex exchange involving six pairs of donors and recipients. This option would have been considered had she not been a suitable match.

3. Policy Advocacy and Systemic Change

Policy advocacy is essential to address the systemic issues that contribute to kidney disease disparities. Efforts to improve access to healthcare, reduce health disparities, and increase funding for kidney research are critical. Supporting legislation that protects living donors and facilitates organ donation is also important. 

4. Patient Empowerment and Education

Patients should be empowered to make informed decisions about their healthcare, including treatment options and living organ donation. Education and awareness campaigns can help dispel myths and misconceptions about kidney disease and transplantation. Additionally, patients should advocate for themselves by pushing for genetic testing. 

5. The Power of Community and Collaboration

Collaboration between patient advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public is essential to address the challenges of kidney disease and transplantation. 

Next Steps 

From early detection efforts to the power of community, we can improve patient outcomes and create a more equitable healthcare system by working together. However, systemic change and patient empowerment is key to closing these disparity gaps. By considering the factors outlined above, we can improve outcomes for those disproportionally impacted by kidney failure. To learn more about closing disparity gaps to achieve kidney health equity, contact our experts directly.