Patterns of end-stage renal disease in US African-Americans

Although African-Americans constitute only about 12.4% of the population of the United States of America (USA), they comprise over 30% of the end-stag e renal disease (ESRD) patient population. Diabetes mellitus (predominantly type 2) is the most frequently reported cause of ESRD in all racial and et hnic groups in the USA. However, hypertensive renal disease is reported as the dominant cause of ESRD in African-Americans. In general, all racial and ethnic minority group in the USA have greater incidence and prevalence rat es of ESRD than Caucasians, However, survival probabilities in all ESRD pat ients, dialysis patients, and cadaveric renal allograft recipients are grea ter in African-Americans than in Caucasians. The suggested reasons for thes e racial and ethnic disparities are discussed.