Study: Structural racism seen as a predictor of survival for patients with kidney failure

BySara Kellner

Fact checked byGina Brockenbrough, MA

Key takeaways:

Black patients with kidney failure had survival advantages vs. white patients in counties with low structural racism.
In counties with high structural racism, Black patients had survival disadvantages.

PHILADELPHIA — County-level structural racism may be a statistically significant predictor of death among people with kidney failure, according to research presented at ASN Kidney Week.

“This study contributes to a rapidly growing empirical consensus that structural factors driving racial disparities in non-health life circumstances also drive racial disparities in health and mortality outcomes,” Jonathan Daw, PhD, of Penn State University, said in a press release.

Black patient on dialysis — Black patients with kidney failure had survival advantages vs. white patients in counties with low structural racism. *Image: Adobe Stock.*

Daw and colleagues used county-level data from the United States Renal Data System, the American Community Survey from 2006 to 2010 and the Vera Institute.

To determine structural racism scores in each county, researchers searched for disparities in the rates of imprisonment, homeownership, college graduation, median income, unemployment, poverty and segregation among Black and white residents.

In counties where structural racism was high, white patients with kidney failure had higher survival advantages compared to Black patients. However, in counties where structural racism was low, Black patients with kidney failure had survival advantages compared with white patients.

“Our hope is that our quantitative research studies will eventually, with continued study and committed engagement with affected communities, lead to promising targeted interventions to blunt the worst effects of structural racism on marginalized racial/ethnic groups’ health,” Daw said in the release. “However, these efforts (even if successful) should not obscure the need for more foundational changes.”

Reference:

County-level structural racism may affect mortality rates in people with kidney failure. https://www.asn-online.org/about/press/releases/ASN_PR_20231103_DawFINAL.pdf. Published Nov. 3, 2023. Accessed Dec. 7, 2023.

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Sources/Disclosures

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Source:

Daw J, et al. FR-OR86. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Nov. 2-5, 2023; Philadelphia.

Disclosures: Daw reports no relevant financial disclosures. The NIDDK funded the study.

American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting

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Study: Structural racism seen as a predictor of survival for patients with kidney failure

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