The joint effects of race and age on the risk of end-stage renal disease attributed to hypertension

Comparison of Urinary Protein/Creatinine Ratio as an Alternative to 24-h Proteinuria in Lupus Nephritis: TUNARI Study

BACKGROUND

Lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in approximately 50% of people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The 24-h proteinuria (gold standard) is measured among other tests for the control and monitoring of LN activity. This study investigates the use of the protein/creatinine ratio (PCR) as an alternative for the detection of proteinuria and its accuracy compared to the gold standard in a predominantly non-white population.

METHODS

This was a prospective study conducted in Salvador, Brazil, between December 2021 and May 2022. We invited adult patients diagnosed with SLE and LN, regardless of their disease activity. The estimation of the PCR and 24-h proteinuria was performed using conventional methods. The analysis used was Spearman's r correlation coefficient (rs), coefficient of determination (r2), and concordance by the Bland-Altman method. A specific sensitivity was measured by the ROC curve with its respective cut-off by the Youden Index.

RESULTS

We compared 112 samples of 75 patients with LN, with a mean age of 34.5 ± 11.8 years. Of these patients, 85% were women, 87.9% were non-white. A high degree of correlation was observed between PCR with 24-h proteinuria (rs = 0.77 and r2 = 0.59). The ROC analysis shows an area under the curve of 0.92 and the cut-off point calculated by the Youden Index was 0.78 with a sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 82%. However, the Bland-Altman graph indicated decreasing concordance as the degree of proteinuria increased, despite showing concordance at high levels of proteinuria.

CONCLUSION

The PCR shows high sensitivity to follow-up patients with LN when compared with 24-h proteinuria. Our findings suggest that PCR is a useful parameter for the evaluating and monitoring patients in complete remission. However, in cases of partial remission, the utility of PCR is limited.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and its association with risk factors in disadvantageous population

The prevalence of kidney disease, particularly diabetic and hypertensive kidney disease is increasing rapidly specially in the disadvantageous group of population throughout the world. A cross sectional survey was carried out at certain selected slum areas of Mirpur in Dhaka city of Bangladesh over the period from July 2003 to June 2005, and a total of participants ranging from 15 to 65 years were studied. The analysis discovered that 4.1% of the participants were diabetic, 11.6% were hypertensive, and 7.7% had proteinuria. Based on MDRD equation, 13.1% of the participants were detected as having chronic kidney disease (CKD) while with Cockcroft-Gault equation 16% had CKD. Accordingly, the difference between the two equations was not significant. Association of sociodemographic factors with CKD was not significant except age more than 40 years and marital status. The association between CKD and risk factors like proteinuria, obese and overweight, use of tobacco, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension was highly significant. Combined prevalence of DM, hypertension, and proteinuria among CKD group was also demonstrated to be significantly higher (3.8% with Cockcroft-Gault equation and 5.3% with MDRD equation) than that of normal population. The survey data revealed that CKD and its risk factors like DM and hypertension are alarmingly high in disadvantageous population and adding further pressure to the existing burden of CKD.

Management of hypertension in the elderly patient at abidjan cardiology institute (ivory coast)

Background. Since the treatment of hypertension is beneficial for the elderly, we have undertaken this study that aims to evaluate the management of hypertension in elderly patient in Côte d'Ivoire. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted among 854 hypertensive elderly patients of Abidjan Cardiology Institute who were followed for a minimum of one year, between January 2000 and December 2009. Results. The patients mean age was 73.1 ± 5.3 years, and 59% were women. At the first presentation, it was mostly systolic-diastolic hypertension (51.8%) and isolated systolic hypertension (38.5%). Mean blood pressure was 169.4 ± 28.4 mmHg for systolic, 95.3 ± 15.7 mmHg for diastolic, and 74.1 ± 22.8 mmHg for pulse pressure. Pulse pressure was ≥60 mmHg in 80.4%. According to the European Guidelines stratification of the cardiovascular risk-excess attributable to high blood pressure, 82.1% of the sample had a very high added risk. The pharmacological therapy was prescribed in 93.5%. More than 66% of patients were receiving ≥2 antihypertensive drugs including fixed-dose combination drugs. The most common agents used were diuretics (63.5%) followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in 61.3%. The most common agents used for monotherapy were calcium antagonists. When ≥2 drugs were used, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers were the most common. Blood pressure control was achieved in 42.6%. Conclusion. The control of elderly hypertension can be effective in Sub-Saharan Africa. He required at least two antihypertensive drugs to meet the recommended blood pressure target.

Hypertensive target organ damage in Ghanaian civil servants with hypertension

Background

Low levels of detection, treatment and control of hypertension have repeatedly been reported from sub Saharan Africa, potentially increasing the likelihood of target organ damage.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1015 urban civil servants aged≥25 years from seven central government ministries in Accra, Ghana. Participants diagnosed to have hypertension were examined for target organ involvement. Hypertensive target organ damage was defined as the detection of any of the following: left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed by electrocardiogram, reduction in glomerular filtration rate, the presence of hypertensive retinopathy or a history of a stroke.

Results

Of the 219 hypertensive participants examined, 104 (47.5%) had evidence of target organ damage. The presence of target organ damage was associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. The odds of developing hypertensive target organ damage was five to six times higher in participants with blood pressure (BP)≥180/110 mmHg compared to those with BP<140/90 mmHg, and there was a trend to higher odds of target organ damage with increasing BP (p = 0.001). Women had about lower odds of developing target organ damage compared to men.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of target organ damage in this working population associated with increasing blood pressure, emphasises the need for hypertension control programs aimed at improving the detection of hypertension, and importantly addressing the issues inhibiting the effective treatment and control of people with hypertension in the population.

The association of poverty with the prevalence of albuminuria: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)

BACKGROUND

Albuminuria is a major risk factor for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease. Socioeconomic factors also have been reported to modify CKD and cardiovascular risk factors and clinical outcomes. The extent to which poverty influences the prevalence of albuminuria, particularly among racial/ethnic minority populations, is not well established. The influence of poverty on the prevalence of albuminuria and the implication of this relationship for the racial and/or ethnic differences in the prevalence of albuminuria were examined.

METHODS

We examined data from 6,850 male and 7,634 female adults from a national probability survey conducted between 1988 and 1994.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, poverty, defined as less than 200% federal poverty level (FPL), was associated with the presence of both microalbuminuria (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 1.49) and macroalbuminuria (OR, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.40 to 2.26). The association of less than 200% FPL with microalbuminuria persisted in a multivariate model controlling for age, sex, race, education, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, reduced glomerular filtration rate, and medication use (OR, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.33). FPL less than 200% was not associated with macroalbuminuria in the multivariate model. When multivariate analysis is stratified by FPL (<200% and > or =200%), differences in ORs for microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria among racial/ethnic minority participants compared with whites were more apparent among the less affluent participants in the FPL-less-than-200% stratum.

CONCLUSION

FPL less than 200% is associated with microalbuminuria, and differences in FPL levels may account for some of the observed differences in prevalence of albuminuria between racial/ethnic minority participants and their white counterparts.

Life-course socioeconomic position and hypertension in African American men: the Pitt County Study

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the odds of hypertension for Black men in relationship to their socioeconomic position (SEP) in both childhood and adulthood.

METHODS

On the basis of their parents' occupation, we classified 379 men in the Pitt County (North Carolina) Study into low and high childhood SEP. The men's own education, occupation, employment status, and home ownership status were used to classify them into low and high adulthood SEP. Four life-course SEP categories resulted: low childhood/low adulthood, low childhood/high adulthood, high childhood/low adulthood, and high childhood/high adulthood.

RESULTS

Low childhood SEP was associated with a 60% greater odds of hypertension, and low adulthood SEP was associated with a 2-fold greater odds of hypertension. Compared with men of high SEP in both childhood and adulthood, the odds of hypertension were 7 times greater for low/low SEP men, 4 times greater for low/high SEP men, and 6 times greater for high/low SEP men.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater access to material resources in both childhood and adulthood was protective against premature hypertension in this cohort of Black men. Though some parameter estimates were imprecise, study findings are consistent with both pathway and cumulative burden models of hypertension.

Proteinuria in African Americans with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

African Americans with type 1 diabetes are at a high risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Factors associated with the presence of (any) proteinuria were examined in this ethnic group.

METHODS

Proteinuria and creatinuria were measured in both first-voided and 4-h timed urine specimens in African Americans with type 1 diabetes (N=717). Other evaluations included clinical interview, ocular examination, fundus photography, blood pressure, and glycosylated hemoglobin measurements.

RESULTS

Of the 717 patients, 357 (49.8%) had any proteinuria. Frequency of any proteinuria increased significantly with (a). age, from 34.2% of patients 20-30 years of age to 84.7% in those >or=45 years of age, and (b). duration of diabetes from 24.1% in those with 0-4 years of diabetes to 77.5% in those with >or=25 years of diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression showed that any proteinuria was significantly and independently associated with male sex, systemic hypertension, poor glycemic control, and longer duration of diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Proteinuria is common in African Americans with type 1 diabetes. Risk factors include male sex, systemic hypertension, poor glycemic control, and longer duration of diabetes. Whether early protection of renal function, in addition to glycemic control, may prevent such morbidity in this ethnic group requires study.

Relationships of race and ethnicity to progression of kidney dysfunction and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney failure

In the United States, the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is much higher for blacks, Native Americans, and Asians than for whites. The incidence of kidney disease is also higher for populations of Hispanic ethnicity. ESRD attributed to diabetes (ESRD-DM), hypertension (ESRD-HT), and glomerulonephritis (ESRD-GN), in this order of frequency, are the major categories of ESRD in the United States for all race/ethnic groups. By using the incidence rates of ESRD, during the period from 1997 through 2000, and with whites as reference, the highest rate ratio (RR) was observed for ESRD-HT in blacks (RR = 5.96), ESRD-DM in Native Americans (RR = 5.11), and ESRD-GN in Asians (RR=2.20). The data suggest that the excess of ESRD observed for racial/ethnic minorities may be reduced by interventions aimed at prevention/control of hypertension and diabetes. The data suggest that before developing ESRD, patients with chronic renal failure from minority groups have to face more barriers to receive high-quality health care. This may explain why they see nephrologists later and are less likely to receive renal transplantation at initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Improvements in quality of care after initiating RRT may explain the lower mortality and higher scores in heath-related quality of life observed for patients from racial/ethnic minorities.

Risk factors for progressive chronic kidney disease

The occurrence of chronic kidney disease and subsequent rate of loss of renal function are highly variable among individuals with the same underlying cause of renal injury or degree of functional impairment. Individual variability of risk is typical of complex diseases and reflects the multifactorial nature of the biologic mechanisms that are involved in the underlying disease process. The utility of the risk factor concept in developing CKD prevention and control strategies includes identifying individuals at high risk for the occurrence and progression of CKD, defining at-risk populations, elucidating potential targets for intervention, and generating explanatory hypotheses for the variable risk of CKD noted in different populations. Future application of the risk factor concept in the prevention and control of CKD will entail developing multivariate prediction equations; using spatial and temporal, as well as personal, characteristics, to define at-risk populations; identifying biomarkers for complex risk factors like race; and translating this information into testable interventions. This should include active extension of our current understanding of health care, social, and economic risk factors at both the individual and the community level.

Identification of persons at high risk for kidney disease via targeted screening: the NKF Kidney Early Evaluation Program

BACKGROUND

More than 340,000 individuals were receiving renal replacement therapy in the United States at the end of 1999; this number is projected to double by the year 2010. Almost half had a primary diagnosis of diabetes mellitus particularly type 2, and more than one quarter a primary diagnosis of hypertension. Studies have demonstrated effective maneuvers to prevent or delay the rate of progression of kidney disease, and decrease morbidity and mortality. The objective of early diagnosis is early detection of asymptomatic disease at a time when intervention has a reasonable potential to have a positive impact on outcome.

METHODS

In 1997, the National Kidney Foundation launched KEEP trade mark (Kidney Early Evaluation Program), a free community-based screening that targets first order relatives of persons with hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease, and those with a personal history of diabetes or hypertension.

RESULTS

Of the 889 individuals screened in the pilot study, 71.4% had at least one abnormality. The program includes an educational component and referral to a physician for follow-up of abnormal values.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted screenings are an effective means of identifying persons at risk for kidney disease, and can identify individuals at risk early enough in the course of their disease to allow for effective intervention.

High prevalence of target organ damage in young, African American inner-city men with hypertension

Young, urban, African American men are at particularly high risk of hypertension and its cardiovascular complications. Left ventricular hypertrophy and renal dysfunction are manifestations of target organ damage from hypertension that predict adverse cardiovascular events. The subjects of this study were 309 African American men, age 18-54 years, with hypertension, residing in inner-city Baltimore. Echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, serum creatinine, and the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio were obtained to evaluate hypertensive target organ damage. Fifty-three percent of the men reported use of antihypertensive medications, of whom 80% were on monotherapy. Calcium channel blockers were used most frequently. The mean echocardiographic left ventricular mass was 211+/-68 g, with a prevalence of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy of 30%. There were 14 men (5%) with extremely high left ventricular mass, >350 grams. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was seen in 9% of the men with uncontrolled hypertension, and none of the men with controlled hypertension (p=0.02). Renal dysfunction was found in 12% of the subjects, and microalbuminuria or gross proteinuria in 34%. The authors conclude that there is a high prevalence of cardiac and renal abnormalities in inner-city African American men with hypertension, especially in men on antihypertensive therapy with uncontrolled hypertension. It is imperative that cost-effective medications and culturally acceptable health care delivery programs be developed, tested, and integrated into health systems, with strategies specifically relevant to this high-risk population, to decrease the largely preventable morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension.

Excess risk of chronic kidney disease among African-American versus white subjects in the United States: a population-based study of potential explanatory factors

African Americans experience higher rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) than do whites. It was hypothesized that racial differences in modifiable factors would account for much of the excess risk of CKD. A cohort study of 9082 African-American and white adults of age 30 to 74 yr, who participated in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1976 to 1980 and were monitored for vital status through 1992 in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality Study, was conducted. Incident CKD was defined as treated CKD cases (ascertained by linkage to the Medicare Registry) and deaths related to kidney disease. The incidence of all-cause CKD was 2.7 times higher among African Americans, compared with whites. Adjustment for sociodemographic factors decreased the relative risk (RR) to 2.49, explaining 12% of the excess risk of CKD among African Americans. Further adjustment for lifestyle factors explained 24% of the excess risk, whereas adjustment for clinical factors alone explained 32%. Simultaneous adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors attenuated the RR to 1.95 (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 3.63), explaining 44% of the excess risk. Although the excess risk of CKD among African Americans was much greater among middle-age adults (30 to 59 yr of age; RR = 4.23, statistically significant) than among older adults (60 to 74 yr of age; RR = 1.27), indicating an interaction between race and age, the same patterns of explanatory factors were observed for the two age groups. Nearly one-half of the excess risk of CKD among African-American adults can be explained on the basis of potentially modifiable risk factors; however, much of the excess risk remains unexplained.

Hypertension in black people: pathophysiology and therapeutic aspects

Salt sensitivity is regarded as an important contributor to the higher risk of hypertension in black people as compared with whites. This finding is in agreement with a better response to diuretics than to monotherapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor in black subjects. It is important to remember that the hypotensive effect of ACE inhibitor is augmented in patients on a thiazide diuretic. Moreover, the antihypertensive response to a specific drug varies among black patients. Thus, ACE inhibitors should also be viewed as important options to treat hypertensive black subjects. Results from clinical trials support an emphasis on lifestyle modification and a more intensive blood pressure lowering by pharmacological interventions to reduce the large black-white gap in cardiovascular events and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) attributed to hypertension.

Update on the use of calcium antagonists on hypertension

Calcium antagonists represent an important group of drugs for the treatment of hypertension; they are effective in the whole range of severity of the disease. Dihy- dropyridine derivatives are most frequently used, and can be used in association with other antihypertensive drugs; meanwhile phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines are contraindicated in association with beta-blocker drugs. Calcium antagonists with slow starting effect and long duration of action are the choice for use in long-term antihypertensive treatment. This group of drugs is specially indicated in elderly patients, in those with diabetes mellitus and in patients with coronary heart disease. Phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepine derivatives are also used in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias. This group of agents is as safe as diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors and beta-blocking drugs in the long-term treatment of hypertension.

Effect of donor factors on early graft survival in adult cadaveric renal transplantation

Previous studies of the effect of donor factors on renal transplant outcomes have not tested the role of recipient body mass index, donor/recipient weight ratios and age matching, and other factors. We analyzed 20,309 adult (age 16 or older) recipients having solitary cadaveric renal transplants from adult donors from 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1998 in an historical cohort study (the 2000 United States Renal Data System) of death censored graft loss by the Cox proportional hazards models, which corrected for characteristics thought to affect outcomes. The only independently significant findings in Cox Regression analysis were a high donor/ recipient age ratio (> or = 1.10, e.g. a 55-year-old donor given to a recipient age 50years or younger, adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.36-4.39) and African American donor kidneys (AHR 1.64, 95% CI, 1.24-2.17). African American recipients and older donors were not at independently increased risk of graft failure in this model. Among donor factors, older donor kidneys given to younger recipients and donor African American kidneys were independently associated with graft loss in recipients of cadaver kidneys. The task for the transplant community should be to find the best means for managing all donor organs without discouraging organ donation.

Predictors of loss of residual renal function among new dialysis patients

Residual renal function (RRF) in end-stage renal disease is clinically important as it contributes to adequacy of dialysis, quality of life, and mortality. This study was conducted to determine the predictors of RRF loss in a national random sample of patients initiating hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The study controlled for baseline variables and included major predictors. The end point was loss of RRF, defined as a urine volume <200 ml/24 h at approximately 1 yr of follow-up. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and P values associated with each of the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment parameters were estimated using an "adjusted" univariate analysis. Significant variables (P < 0.05) were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. Predictors of RRF loss were female gender (AOR = 1.45; P < 0.001), non-white race (AOR = 1.57; P = <0.001), prior history of diabetes (AOR = 1.82; P = 0.006), prior history of congestive heart failure (AOR = 1.32; P = 0.03), and time to follow-up (AOR = 1.06 per month; P = 0.03). Patients treated with peritoneal dialysis had a 65% lower risk of RRF loss than those on hemodialysis (AOR = 0.35; P < 0.001). Higher serum calcium (AOR = 0.81 per mg/dl; P = 0.05), use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (AOR = 0.68; P < 0.001). and use of a calcium channel blocker (AOR = 0.77; P = 0.01) were independently associated with decreased risk of RRF loss. The observations of demographic groups at risk and potentially modifiable factors and therapies have generated testable hypotheses regarding therapies that may preserve RRF among end-stage renal disease patients.

Antihypertensive medication and renal allograft failure: a North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study report

Hypertension after renal transplantation occurs commonly and, in adults, is associated with decreased graft survival. The North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study database was analyzed to determine: (1) the percent use of antihypertensive (anti-HTN) medication based on donor type, race, age, and acute rejection status; and (2) whether use of anti-HTN medication is associated with higher rates of subsequent graft failure. Data regarding anti-HTN medication use was available in 5251 renal allografts (4821 patients) with >30 d graft function. Posttransplant follow-up data were collected at 30 d, 6 mo, 12 mo, and then annually for 5 yr. At each follow-up, patients were selected for further analysis if the graft was functioning at that visit and subsequent follow-up data were available. Overall, anti-HTN medication use was 79% on day 30 and 58% at 5 yr. At each follow-up, anti-HTN medication use was higher (P < 0.01) for cadaveric donor versus living related donor, blacks versus whites, age >12 versus <12 yr, and > or = 1 versus 0 acute rejection episodes. Anti-HTN medication use at each annual follow-up was associated with significantly higher rates of subsequent graft failure. Multiple regression analysis controlling for all factors associated with increased use of anti-HTN medications revealed a relative risk of graft failure for use of anti-HTN medication of greater than 1.4 (P < 0.001). In recipients of cadaveric allografts, only acute rejection status predicted subsequent graft failure more strongly than use of anti-HTN medications. These data suggest that hypertension after renal transplantation in children, as evidenced by use of anti-HTN medications, is associated with increased rates of subsequent graft failure.

Renal vascular disease in the elderly

The aging of Western societies is causing a progressive increase in the number of patients over 65 starting dialysis. The EDTA Registry shows that in 1995 this section of the population represented nearly 45% of patients under dialysis, and the percentage is even higher in the USRDS at 48%, 20% of whom are over 75. These changes have not only been quantitative, but have also modified the causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Diabetic nephropathy (DN) and renal vascular disease (RVD) account for more than 50% of all these causes, reaching 66% according to the latest USRDS calculations. According to these numbers, RVD represents 29% of all causes, the incidence varying with the age group, and has become the main cause of ESRD in the elderly (38% of all cases). Until a few years ago, RVD was synonymous with hypertension, but as the population ages, the range of diseases in this group is increasing. The main RVDs that cause ESRD in the elderly are: hypertensive RVD (nephrosclerosis), atheromatous RVD (either as ischemic atherosclerotic nephropathy or as atheroembolism), and acute occlusion of renal arteries (either bilateral or unilateral in single-kidney patients). The diagnosis of nephrosclerosis in the absence of histological confirmation is a presumed clinical diagnosis, made in most cases by exclusion, and is therefore clearly overestimated. On the other hand, atheromatous RVD is an underdiagnosed disease that is often overlooked. The prevalence, natural history, diagnosis and prognosis are discussed in this report.

Differences in the patterns of age-specific black/white comparisons between end-stage renal disease attributed and not attributed to diabetes

To assess differences in the patterns of age-specific black/white comparisons between end-stage renal disease (ESRD) attributed to diabetes (ESRD-DM) and not attributed to diabetes (ESRD-NON-DM), data for subjects 20 to 79 years of age reported by the US Renal Data System as incident cases of ESRD during 1988 to 1991 were analyzed. While the black to white incidence rate ratio (B/W RR) for ESRD-NON-DM peaked in patients before the age of 40 years, the most striking B/W RRs for ESRD-DM were observed in patients older than 40 years. This study also explored evidence supporting the hypothesis that an increased risk of premature death attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD death) in black patients, alone or in combination with black/white differences in prevalence of diabetes, influences the pattern of age-specific black/white ESRD-DM comparisons. By using estimates of the diabetic population as denominators for the rates, the incidence or ESRD-DM remained much higher in black patients than in white patients for those aged 45 years or above. However, the incidence of ESRD-DM for patients aged below 45 years was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) lower (B/W RR = 0.6) for black male diabetic patients and slightly, yet significantly, higher (P < 0.05; B/W RR = 1.1) for black female diabetic patients than for their white counterparts. Therefore, prevalence of diabetes could not fully explain the pattern of age-specific B/W RR for ESRD-DM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The low birth weight hypothesis as a plausible explanation for the black/white differences in hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and end-stage renal disease

It is well known that black Americans have a higher risk for low birth weight (LBW) than white Americans. In addition, blacks are at a higher risk for hypertension (HT), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), particularly ESRD attributed to HT (ESRD-HT) and NIDDM (ESRD-NIDDM). It has been shown that LBW is associated with postpartum anatomic and functional alterations in the kidney and pancreas as well as with progressive renal damage in animals and increased risk for HT and NIDDM during adulthood in humans. Based on these empirical findings, it is here proposed that a greater risk of HT, NIDDM, and ESRD, particularly ESRD-HT and ESRD-NIDDM, in black Americans during adulthood may be partly related to their higher risk of LBW. However, LBW is proposed here as a component factor rather than a sufficient cause or a necessary factor for the development of these diseases. The ultimate contribution of LBW to the black/white disparities regarding HT, NIDDM, and ESRD may depend not only on the black/white differences in LBW but also on the race-specific prevalences of other component factors, both environmental/behavioral and genetic, that may or may not require the presence of LBW to cause each of these diseases.