Recent studies show that Black Americans are less likely to receive kidney transplants from living donors compared to White Americans. This difference has remained the same over the past decade.
Researchers looked at data from 2008 to 2018 and found that among adults waiting for a kidney transplant, about one-third were Black, and two-thirds were White. However, when it came to actually receiving a kidney from a living donor, only 14.1% of the recipients were Black, while 85.9% were White.
Several factors contribute to this disparity. Black Americans often face challenges such as financial difficulties, poor communication with healthcare providers, and a lack of knowledge about transplants. These issues make it harder for them to access living donor kidney transplants.
Another study from Canada found that a small number of living kidney donors (8%) experienced a decline in their kidney function or an increase in protein in their urine over an average follow-up period of 8.6 years after donating.
Experts say that there is a need for national efforts to reduce costs for donors and increase the number of living kidney donations. At the same time, it is crucial to address the ongoing racial disparities in access to transplantation to ensure that everyone has an equal chance of receiving a life-saving kidney transplant.
See “Insights Into Living Kidney Donor Health, Racial Disparities” by Natasha Persaud on the Renal and Urology website (February 9, 2024)
