Increasing Awareness of Kidney Disease in the African American Community

INCREASING AWARENESS OF KIDNEY DISEASE IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 06, 2006)

* Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, as Congress recognizes National Minority Health Month, I join my colleagues, Congresswoman Christensen and Congressman Jefferson to increase awareness about the devastating effects of kidney disease on the African American community.

* Both kidney failure and its precursor, Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD, disproportionately affect African Americans. Although only about 13 percent of the U.S. population, African Americans make up 32 percent of the patients treated for kidney failure. The American Heart Association reports that African Americans have a 4.2 times greater rate of kidney failure than white Americans. The Congressional Black Caucus is especially concerned about the growing prevalence of kidney disease because of this disproportionate impact.

* Mr. Speaker, the leading causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which also disproportionately affect African Americans. Diabetes occurs at twice the rate in the African American community than it does with Caucasians. High blood pressure affects 1 out of every 3 African American adults. According to the American Heart Association, the prevalence of hypertension in the African American community is among the highest in the world.

* Mr. Speaker, African Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than Caucasians. African Americans make up 12 percent of the population but account for 30 percent of people with kidney failure. Diabetes and high blood pressure account for about 70 percent of kidney failure in African Americans. A recent National Kidney Disease Education Program, NKDEP, survey of African Americans found that only 17 percent named kidney disease as a consequence of diabetes, and only eight percent named it as a consequence of high blood pressure. African American males ages 22-44 are 20 times more likely to develop kidney failure due to high blood pressure than Caucasian males in the same age group. Forty-five percent of African American men with kidney failure received late referrals to nephrologists. In some cases people were not aware they had a problem until they needed dialysis.

* We must continue our strong support of the efforts of the kidney care community to meet the needs of these patients. We must fund education programs to raise awareness of the disease within the African American community. We must ensure that Medicare treats those who care for patients with kidney disease the same way it treats all other groups of providers--this means enacting an annual update mechanism to recognize inflation and other increases related to caring for these patients. Without equitable reimbursement, it will be difficult for the community to continue to meet the needs of the ever-growing patient population.

* Supporting educational programs and high quality care not only improves quality of life for patients, but also reduces the cost to the overburdened Medicare program. Preventing kidney failure and improving care will result in substantial savings for the government. In addition, if treated early, individuals with kidney disease will experience an improved quality of life and be able to maintain more daily life activities, including keeping their jobs.

* My colleagues and I applaud the efforts to increase awareness about this important issue and to show support for Americans living with kidney disease. We must act now to help Americans learn more about this deadly disease and how to prevent its development and progression to kidney failure.

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