Engineering Equity Into the Promise of Xenotransplantation

Two of the greatest challenges facing kidney transplantation are the lack of donated organs and inequities in who receives a transplant. Xenotransplantation holds promise as a treatment approach that could solve the supply problem. Major advances in gene-editing procedures have enabled several companies to raise genetically engineered pigs for organ donation. These porcine organs lack antigens and have other modifications that should reduce the probability of immunological rejection when transplanted into humans. The US Food and Drug Administration and transplantation leaders are starting to chart a path to test xenotransplants in clinical trials and later integrate them into routine clinical care. Here we provide a framework that industry, regulatory authorities, payers, transplantation professionals, and patient groups can implement to promote equity during every stage in this process. We also call for immediate action. Companies developing xenotransplant technology should assemble patient advocacy boards to bring the concerns of individuals with end-stage kidney disease to the forefront. For trials, xenotransplantation companies should partner with transplant programs with substantial patient populations of racial and ethnic minority groups and that have reciprocal relationships with those communities. Those companies and transplant programs should reach out now to those communities to inform them about xenotransplantation and try to address their concerns. These actions have the potential to make these communities full partners in the promise of xenotransplantation.

Association between English Proficiency and Kidney Disease Knowledge and Communication Quality among Patients with ESKD

Key Points

Background

ESKD is a chronic health condition for which communication between health care teams and patients is important to guide patient self-management activities. Yet, little is known about the quality of communication among patients with ESKD and their care team members. We examined the influence of patient's limited English proficiency (LEP) status on communication experiences at one dialysis center.

Methods

A survey was administered to adults receiving ESKD care at a dialysis unit within a public health care delivery system between July 2022 and February 2023, to ascertain kidney disease knowledge and perceptions of communication quality with the dialysis care team. Multivariable logistic and ordinal logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex were used to determine associations between LEP status and CKD knowledge.

Results

Among 93 eligible patients, 88.2% (n=82) completed the survey. Approximately 37.8% (n=31) had LEP, mean age was 58.8 years, 68.3% were men, mean dialysis vintage was 3.9 years, and 25% had a positive depression screen (LEP 30%; English-proficient 22%). A higher proportion of English-proficient patients screened positive for limited health literacy compared to those with LEP (74.5% versus 38.7%, P = 0.002). Overall, knowledge of assigned cause of ESKD (53.4%) and CKD/transplant knowledge (57.3%) was suboptimal. After adjustment, LEP status was not significantly associated with knowing the correct cause of kidney failure (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.19 to 1.27) but was significantly associated with having a higher score on a CKD/transplant knowledge scale (odds ratio, 3.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.66 to 9.58). Patients with LEP reported poorer communication quality with dialysis providers and staff (less listening, fewer clear explanations, less time spent with patients) compared with English-proficient patients, although differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Overall communication between patients with ESKD and members of the dialysis care team was suboptimal, regardless of English proficiency. Interventions to enhance communication for ESKD patients are needed.

Assessing trends and variability in outpatient dual testing for chronic kidney disease with urine albumin and serum creatinine, 2009-2018: a retrospective cohort study in the Veterans Health Administration System

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous urine testing for albumin (UAlb) and serum creatinine (SCr), that is, 'dual testing,' is an accepted quality measure in the management of diabetes. As chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by both UAlb and SCr testing, this approach could be more widely adopted in kidney care.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed time trends and facility-level variation in the performance of outpatient dual testing in the integrated Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system.

DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND MAIN MEASURES

This retrospective cohort study included patients with any inpatient or outpatient visit to the VHA system during the period 2009-2018. Dual testing was defined as UAlb and SCr testing in the outpatient setting within a calendar year. We assessed time trends in dual testing by demographics, comorbidities, high-risk (eg, diabetes) specialty care and facilities. A generalised linear mixed-effects model was applied to explore individual and facility-level predictors of receiving dual testing.

KEY RESULTS

We analysed data from approximately 6.9 million veterans per year. Dual testing increased, on average, from 17.4% to 21.2%, but varied substantially among VHA centres (0.3%-43.7% in 2018). Dual testing was strongly associated with diabetes (OR 10.4, 95% CI 10.3 to 10.5, p<0.0001) and not associated with VHA centre complexity level. However, among patients with high-risk conditions including diabetes, <50% received dual testing in any given year. As compared with white veterans, black veterans were less likely to be tested after adjusting for other individual and facility characteristics (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.93, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Dual testing for CKD in high-risk specialties is increasing but remains low. This appears primarily due to low rates of testing for albuminuria. Promoting dual testing in high-risk patients will help to improve disease management and patient outcomes.

Muscle Mass and Serum Creatinine Concentration by Race and Ethnicity among Hemodialysis Patients

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Serum creatinine is a product of skeletal muscle metabolism. Differences in serum creatinine concentration between Black and non-Black individuals have been attributed to differences in muscle mass but have not been thoroughly examined. Furthermore, other race and ethnic groups have not been considered. If differences in body composition explain differences in serum concentration by race or ethnicity, then estimates of body composition could be used in eGFR equations rather than race. Adjustment for intracellular water (ICW) as a proxy of muscle mass among patients with kidney failure in whom creatinine clearance should minimally influence serum concentration does not explain race- and ethnicity-dependent differences.

BACKGROUND

Differences in serum creatinine concentration among groups defined by race and ethnicity have been ascribed to differences in muscle mass. We examined differences in serum creatinine by race and ethnicity in a cohort of patients receiving hemodialysis in whom creatinine elimination by the kidney should have little or no effect on serum creatinine concentration and considered whether these differences persisted after adjustment for proxies of muscle mass.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 501 participants in the A Cohort Study to Investigate the Value of Exercise in ESKD/Analyses Designed to Investigate the Paradox of Obesity and Survival in ESKD study who had been receiving hemodialysis for >1 year. We examined the independent associations among race and ethnicity (Black, Asian, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic), serum creatinine, and ICW (L/m 2 ), a proxy for muscle mass, derived by whole-body multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy, using multivariable linear regression with adjustment for several demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. We examined the association of race and ethnicity with serum creatinine concentration with and without adjustment for ICW.

RESULTS

Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients had higher serum creatinine concentrations (+1.68 mg/dl [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09 to 2.27], +1.61 mg/dl [95% CI, 0.90 to 2.32], and +0.83 [95% CI, 0.08 to 1.57], respectively) than non-Hispanic White patients. Overall, ICW was associated with serum creatinine concentration (0.26 mg/dl per L/m 2 ICW; 95% CI, 0.006 to 0.51) but was not statistically significantly different by race and ethnicity. Black, Asian, and Hispanic race and ethnicity remained significantly associated with serum creatinine concentration after adjustment for ICW.

CONCLUSION

Among patients receiving dialysis, serum creatinine was higher in Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients than in non-Hispanic White patients. Differences in ICW did not explain the differences in serum creatinine concentration across race groups.

Hospital Equity Rating Metrics-Promise, Pitfalls, and Perils

This Viewpoint addresses several considerations regarding equity metrics across hospital regulatory and accrediting organizations and suggestions for improvement.

Utility of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation and Estimated GFR for Estimating Time to Kidney Failure in Advanced CKD

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

The Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) predicts the 2-year risk of kidney failure for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Translating KFRE-predicted risk or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) into time to kidney failure could inform decision making for patients approaching kidney failure.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

CKD Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (CKDOPPS) cohort of patients with an eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m2 from 34 US nephrology practices (2013-2021).

EXPOSURE

2-year KFRE risk or eGFR.

OUTCOME

Kidney failure defined as initiation of dialysis or kidney transplantation.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Accelerated failure time (Weibull) models used to estimate the median, 25th, and 75th percentile times to kidney failure starting from KFRE values of 20%, 40%, and 50%, and from eGFR values of 20, 15, and 10mL/min/1.73m2. We examined variability in time to kidney failure by age, sex, race, diabetes status, albuminuria, and blood pressure.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,641 participants were included (mean age 69±13 years; median eGFR of 28mL/min/1.73m2 [IQR 20-37mL/min/1.73 m2]). Over a median follow-up period of 19 months (IQR, 12-30 months), 268 participants developed kidney failure, and 180 died before reaching kidney failure. The median estimated time to kidney failure was widely variable across patient characteristics from an eGFR of 20mL/min/1.73m2 and was shorter for younger age, male sex, Black (versus non-Black), diabetes (vs no diabetes), higher albuminuria, and higher blood pressure. Estimated times to kidney failure were comparably less variable across these characteristics for KFRE thresholds and eGFR of 15 or 10mL/min/1.73m2.

LIMITATIONS

Inability to account for competing risks when estimating time to kidney failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Among those with eGFR<15mL/min/1.73m2 or KFRE risk>40%), both KFRE risk and eGFR showed similar relationships with time to kidney failure. Our results demonstrate that estimating time to kidney failure in advanced CKD can inform clinical decisions and patient counseling on prognosis, regardless of whether estimates are based on eGFR or the KFRE.

PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Clinicians often talk to patients with advanced chronic kidney disease about the level of kidney function expressed as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and about the risk of developing kidney failure, which can be estimated using the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE). In a cohort of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, we examined how eGFR and KFRE risk predictions corresponded to the time patients had until reaching kidney failure. Among those with eGFR<15mL/min/1.73m2 or KFRE risk > 40%), both KFRE risk and eGFR showed similar relationships with time to kidney failure. Estimating time to kidney failure in advanced CKD using either eGFR or KFRE can inform clinical decisions and patient counseling on prognosis.

Care of the Patient With Abnormal Kidney Test Results

Blood and urine tests are commonly performed by clinicians in both ambulatory and hospital settings that detect chronic and acute kidney disease. Thresholds for these tests have been established that signal the presence and severity of kidney injury or dysfunction. In the appropriate clinical context of a patient's history and physical examination, an abnormal test result should trigger specific actions for clinicians, including reviewing patient medication use, follow-up testing, prescribing lifestyle modifications, and specialist referral. Tests for kidney disease can also be used to determine the future risk for kidney failure as well as cardiovascular death.

Sources of Clinician Burnout in Providing Care for Underserved Patients in a Safety-Net Healthcare System

BACKGROUND

Burnout among clinicians is common and can undermine quality of care, patient outcomes, and workforce preservation, but sources of burnout or protective factors unique to clinicians working in safety-net settings are less well understood. Understanding these clinician experiences may inform interventions to reduce burnout.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinician perspectives on sources of burnout in a safety-net healthcare system.

DESIGN

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians from multiple disciplines who provided care at a safety-net healthcare system from October 2018 to January 2019. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty clinicians (25 female and 15 male; mean [SD] age, 41 [9.1]) participated, including physicians, social workers, advanced practice providers, nurses, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Themes and subthemes that reflected clinician experiences, burnout, and workload expectations.

KEY RESULTS

Five themes emerged: limited resources (entrenched social injustices, brokenness of the US healthcare system, precarious discharge options, and "revolving door" readmissions), barriers to building trust with patients (chasm of communication, addressing fear and mistrust, and being exposed to threats), administrative requirements (criticism hampering meaningful care, assuming extra workloads, bureaucratic burden), compassion fatigue (confronting traumatic situations, persistent worry about patient safety and welfare, witnessing mistreatment and stigmatization, overextending and overinvesting, withdrawing and shutting down, blaming self and career crisis), and advocacy as a counterbalance to burnout (solidarity when helping underserved communities, fervent advocacy, and patient gratitude).

CONCLUSIONS

Among clinicians who provide care in a safety-net healthcare system, sources of burnout included limited resources, barriers to building trust with patients, administrative requirements, and compassion fatigue, but clinicians remained driven by their desire to advocate for patients. Policy-level interventions which increase funding to safety-net healthcare systems to bolster existing resources and staffing, create peer-support and wellness programs, and support advocacy efforts may mitigate burnout.

National Projections for Clinical Implications of Race-Free Creatinine-Based GFR Estimating Equations

BACKGROUND

The National Kidney Foundation and American Society of Nephrology Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease recently recommended a new race-free creatinine-based equation for eGFR. The effect on recommended clinical care across race and ethnicity groups is unknown.

METHODS

We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional questionnaires and medical examinations from 44,360 participants collected between 2001 and 2018 by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We quantified the number and proportion of Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian/Other adults with guideline-recommended changes in care.

RESULTS

The new equation, if applied nationally, could assign new CKD diagnoses to 434,000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 350,000 to 517,000) Black adults, reclassify 584,000 (95% CI, 508,000 to 667,000) to more advanced stages of CKD, restrict kidney donation eligibility for 246,000 (95% CI, 189,000 to 303,000), expand nephrologist referrals for 41,800 (95% CI, 19,800 to 63,800), and reduce medication dosing for 222,000 (95% CI, 169,000 to 275,000). Among non-Black adults, these changes may undo CKD diagnoses for 5.51 million (95% CI, 4.86 million to 6.16 million), reclassify 4.59 million (95% CI, 4.28 million to 4.92 million) to less advanced stages of CKD, expand kidney donation eligibility for 3.96 million (95% CI, 3.46 million to 4.46 million), reverse nephrologist referral for 75,800 (95% CI, 35,400 to 116,000), and reverse medication dose reductions for 1.47 million (95% CI, 1.22 million to 1.73 million). The racial and ethnic mix of the populations used to develop eGFR equations has a substantial effect on potential care changes.

CONCLUSION

The newly recommended 2021 CKD-EPI creatinine-based eGFR equation may result in substantial changes to recommended care for US patients of all racial and ethnic groups.

Designing Interventions Addressing Structural Racism to Reduce Kidney Health Disparities: A Report from a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop

Structural racism embodies the many ways in which society fosters racial discrimination through "mutually reinforcing inequitable systems" that limit access to resources and opportunities that can promote health and well being among marginalized communities. To achieve health equity, and kidney health equity more specifically, structural racism must be eliminated. In February 2022, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases convened the "Designing Interventions that Address Structural Racism to Reduce Kidney Health Disparities" workshop, which was aimed at describing the mechanisms through which structural racism contributes to health and health care disparities for people along the continuum of kidney disease and identifying actionable opportunities for interventional research focused on dismantling or addressing the effects of structural racism. Participants identified six domains as key targets for interventions and future research: (1) apply an antiracism lens, (2) promote structural interventions, (3) target multiple levels, (4) promote effective community and stakeholder engagement, (5) improve data collection, and (6) advance health equity through new health care models. There is an urgent need for research to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that address the unjust systems, policies, and laws that generate and perpetuate inequities in kidney health.

Albuminuria testing and nephrology care among insured US adults with chronic kidney disease: a missed opportunity

BACKGROUND

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), assessment of both estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria are necessary for stratifying risk and determining the need for nephrology referral. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes clinical practice guidelines for CKD recommend nephrology referral for eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73m² or for urinary albumin/creatinine ratio ≥ 300 mg/g.

METHODS

Using a national claims database of US patients covered by commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage, we identified patients with CKD who were actively followed in primary care. We examined receipt of nephrology care within 1 year among these patients according to their stage of CKD, classified using eGFR and albuminuria categories. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine odds of receiving nephrology care by CKD category, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, diabetes, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.

RESULTS

Among 291,155 patients with CKD, 55% who met guideline-recommended referral criteria had seen a nephrologist. Receipt of guideline-recommended nephrology care was higher among those with eGFR < 30 (64%; 11,330/17738) compared with UACR ≥300 mg/g (51%; 8789/17290). 59% did not have albuminuria testing. Those patients without albuminuria testing had substantially lower adjusted odds of recommended nephrology care (aOR 0.47 [0.43, 0.52] for eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73m²). Similar patterns were observed in analyses stratified by diabetes status.

CONCLUSIONS

Only half of patients meeting laboratory criteria for nephrology referral were seen by a nephrologist. Underutilization of albuminuria testing may be a barrier to identifying primary care patients at elevated kidney failure risk who may warrant nephrology referral.

Submaximal Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Dosing Among Persons With Proteinuria

For persons with proteinuria, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are treatment mainstays for reducing kidney disease progression. Guidelines for managing hypertension and chronic kidney disease recommend titrating to the maximum ACEi/ARB dose tolerated. Using deidentified national electronic health record data from the Optum Labs Data Warehouse, we examined ACEi/ARB dosing among adults with proteinuria-defined as either a urine albumin to creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or greater or a protein to creatinine ratio of 150 mg/g or greater-who were prescribed an ACEi/ARB medication between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. Among 100,238 included patients (mean age, 65.1 years; 49,523 [49.4%] female), 29,883 (29.8%) were taking maximal ACEi/ARB doses. Among 74,287 patients without potential contraindications to dose escalation (systolic blood pressure <120 mm Hg, estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min per 1.73 m2, serum potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L, or acute kidney injury within the prior year), the frequency of maximal ACEi/ARB dosing was 32.3% (24,025 patients). In adjusted analyses, age less than 40 years, female sex, Hispanic ethnicity, lower urine albumin to creatinine ratio, lack of diabetes, heart failure, lower blood pressure, higher serum potassium level, and prior acute kidney injury were associated with lower odds of maximal ACEi/ARB dosing. Having a prior nephrologist visit was not associated with maximal dosing. Our results suggest that greater attention toward optimizing the dose of ACEi/ARB therapy may represent an opportunity to improve chronic kidney disease care and reduce excess morbidity and mortality associated with disease progression.

Proinflammatory Diets and Risk of ESKD in US Adults with CKD

Background

Inflammation may affect long-term kidney function. Diet may play a role in chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that proinflammatory diets increase the risk of progression to kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT), and systemic inflammation is a mediator of the effect of diet on progression to KFRT.

Methods

In the 1988-1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked to the national ESKD registry, in adults with CKD (eGFR 15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m²), aged ≥20 years, we calculated the Adapted Dietary Inflammatory Index (ADII) at baseline from a 24-hour dietary recall and an inflammation score (IS) using average of z scores of four inflammation biomarkers. We explored the association of the ADII and IS with risk of incident KFRT using Cox proportional model, adjusting for sociodemographics, physical activity, Framingham risk score, eGFR, and urinary ACR. We evaluated whether, and to what extent, IS mediated the effect of the ADII on KFRT incidence, using causal mediation analysis.

Results

Of 1084 adults with CKD, 109 (10%) developed KFRT. The ADII was associated with increased risk of KFRT (relative hazard [RH] per SD increase (2.56): 1.4 [1.04-1.78]). IS was also associated with KFRT (RH: 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.25). Approximately 36% of the association between the ADII and KFRT was explained by IS.

Conclusions

Among adults with CKD, a proinflammatory diet was associated with risk of KFRT, and that association was partially explained by an increase in inflammatory markers. Dietary interventions that reduce inflammation may offer an approach for preventing KFRT.

Association of Estimated GFR Calculated Using Race-Free Equations With Kidney Failure and Mortality by Black vs Non-Black Race

Importance

At a given estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), individuals who are Black have higher rates of mortality and kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT) compared with those who are non-Black. Whether the recently adopted eGFR equations without race preserve racial differences in risk of mortality and KFRT at a given eGFR is unknown.

Objective

To assess whether eGFR equations with and without race and cystatin C document racial differences in risk of KFRT and mortality in populations including Black and non-Black participants.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Retrospective individual-level data analysis of 62 011 participants from 5 general population and 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) US-based cohorts with serum creatinine, cystatin C, and follow-up for KFRT and mortality from 1988 to 2018.

Exposures

Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation with serum creatinine (eGFRcr with and without race), cystatin C (eGFRcys without race), or both markers (eGFRcr-cys without race).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The prevalence of decreased eGFR at baseline and hazard ratios of KFRT and mortality in Black vs non-Black participants were calculated, adjusted for age and sex. Analyses were performed within each cohort and with random-effect meta-analyses of the models.

Results

Among 62 011 participants (20 773 Black and 41 238 non-Black; mean age, 63 years; 53% women), the prevalence ratio (95% CI; percent prevalences) of eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 comparing Black with non-Black participants was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.93-1.03; 11% vs 12%) for eGFRcr with race, 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91-0.98; 17% vs 18%) for eGFRcys, and 1.2 (95% CI, 1.2-1.3; 13% vs 11%) for eGFRcr-cys but was 1.8 (95% CI, 1.7-1.8; 15% vs 9%) for eGFRcr without race. During a mean follow-up of 13 years, 8% and 4% of Black and non-Black participants experienced KFRT and 34% and 39% died, respectively. Decreased eGFR was associated with significantly greater risk of both outcomes for all equations. At an eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, the hazard ratios for KFRT comparing Black with non-Black participants were 2.8 (95% CI, 1.6-4.9) for eGFRcr with race, 3.0 (95% CI, 1.5-5.8) for eGFRcys, and 2.8 (95% CI, 1.4-5.4) for eGFRcr-cys vs 1.3 (95% CI, 0.8-2.1) for eGFRcr without race. The 5-year absolute risk differences for KFRT comparing Black with non-Black participants were 1.4% (95% CI, 0.2%-2.6%) for eGFRcr with race, 1.1% (95% CI, 0.2%-1.9%) for eGFRcys, and 1.3% (95% CI, 0%-2.6%) for eGFRcr-cys vs 0.37% (95% CI, -0.32% to 1.05%) for eGFRcr without race. Similar patterns were observed for mortality.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this retrospective analysis of 8 US cohorts including Black and non-Black individuals, the eGFR equation without race that included creatinine and cystatin C, but not the eGFR equation without race that included creatinine without cystatin C, demonstrated racial differences in the risk of KFRT and mortality throughout the range of eGFR. The eGFRcr-cys equation may be preferable to the eGFRcr equation without race for assessing racial differences in the risk of KFRT and mortality associated with low eGFR.

Potential Effects of Elimination of the Black Race Coefficient in eGFR Calculations in the CREDENCE Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The effect of including race in the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation on screening, recruitment, and outcomes of clinical trials is unclear.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

The inclusion and outcomes of participants in the Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation (CREDENCE) trial, which randomized individuals with type 2 diabetes and CKD to canagliflozin or placebo, were evaluated after calculating eGFR using the 2009 CKD-EPI creatinine equation with and without a race-specific coefficient or the 2021 CKD-EPI creatinine equation. Treatment effects were estimated using proportional hazards models and piecewise linear mixed effects models for eGFR slope.

RESULTS

Of 4401 randomized participants, 2931 (67%) were White participants, 224 (5%) were Black participants, 877 (20%) were Asian participants, and 369 (8%) participants were other race. Among randomized participants, recalculation of screening eGFR using the 2009 equation without a race-specific coefficient had no effect on the likelihood of non-Black participants meeting inclusion criteria but would have excluded 22 (10%) randomized Black participants for eGFR<30 ml/min per 1.73 m². Recalculation with the 2021 equation would have excluded eight (4%) Black participants for low eGFR and one (0.4%) Black participant for eGFR≥90 ml/min per 1.73 m², whereas 30 (0.7%) and 300 (7%) non-Black participants would have been excluded for low and high eGFR, respectively. A high proportion (eight of 22; 36%) of end points in Black participants occurred in individuals who would have been excluded following recalculation using the race-free 2009 equation but not when recalculated with the 2021 equation (one of eight; 13%). Cardiovascular and kidney treatment effects remained consistent across eGFR categories following recalculation with either equation. Changes in estimated treatment effects on eGFR slope were modest but were qualitatively larger following recalculation using the 2021 equation. However, the effect of canagliflozin on chronic change in eGFR was attenuated by 7% among Black participants and increased 6% in non-Black participants.

CONCLUSIONS

In the CREDENCE trial, eGFR recalculation without the race-specific coefficient had small but potentially important effects on event rates and the relative proportion of Black participants without substantially changing efficacy estimates.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NAME AND REGISTRATION NUMBER

Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation (CREDENCE), NCT02065791.

A Unifying Approach for GFR Estimation: Recommendations of the NKF-ASN Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

In response to a national call for re-evaluation of the use of race in clinical algorithms, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) established a Task Force to reassess inclusion of race in the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the United States and its implications for diagnosis and management of patients with, or at risk for, kidney diseases.

PROCESS & DELIBERATIONS

The Task Force organized its activities over 10 months in phases to (1) clarify the problem and evidence regarding GFR estimating equations in the United States (described previously in an interim report), and, in this final report, (2) evaluate approaches to address use of race in GFR estimation, and (3) provide recommendations. We identified 26 approaches for the estimation of GFR that did or did not consider race and narrowed our focus, by consensus, to 5 of those approaches. We holistically evaluated each approach considering 6 attributes: assay availability and standardization; implementation; population diversity in equation development; performance compared with measured GFR; consequences to clinical care, population tracking, and research; and patient centeredness. To arrive at a unifying approach to estimate GFR, we integrated information and evidence from many sources in assessing strengths and weaknesses in attributes for each approach, recognizing the number of Black and non-Black adults affected.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(1) For US adults (>85% of whom have normal kidney function), we recommend immediate implementation of the CKD-EPI creatinine equation refit without the race variable in all laboratories in the United States because it does not include race in the calculation and reporting, included diversity in its development, is immediately available to all laboratories in the United States, and has acceptable performance characteristics and potential consequences that do not disproportionately affect any one group of individuals. (2) We recommend national efforts to facilitate increased, routine, and timely use of cystatin C, especially to confirm estimated GFR in adults who are at risk for or have chronic kidney disease, because combining filtration markers (creatinine and cystatin C) is more accurate and would support better clinical decisions than either marker alone. If ongoing evidence supports acceptable performance, the CKD-EPI eGFR-cystatin C (eGFRcys) and eGFR creatinine-cystatin C (eGFRcr-cys_R) refit without the race variables should be adopted to provide another first-line test, in addition to confirmatory testing. (3) Research on GFR estimation with new endogenous filtration markers and on interventions to eliminate race and ethnic disparities should be encouraged and funded. An investment in science is needed for newer approaches that generate accurate, unbiased, and precise GFR measurement and estimation without the inclusion of race, and that promote health equity and do not generate disparate care.

IMPLEMENTATION

This unified approach, without specification of race, should be adopted across the United States. High-priority and multistakeholder efforts should implement this solution.

Resolving the Debate: The Future of Using Race in Estimating Kidney Function

Racial and social unrest witnessed during 2020 ignited a national conversation about the appropriateness of the use of race in health care algorithms and in the estimation of kidney function in particular. The growing concerns over the use of race in kidney function-estimating equations prompted the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and American Society of Nephrology to launch an effort for change by establishing a task force on reassessing the use of race in diagnosing kidney disease. After nearly a year examining the evidence and obtaining testimony from experts and stakeholders, the task force recommended the immediate implementation of the 2020 Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology creatinine equation refit without race in all US laboratories; increased routine use of cystatin C for confirmation of estimated glomerular filtration rate in clinical decision-making and a call for research on glomerular filtration rate estimation with new endogenous filtration markers and on addressing disparities in health and health care. The NKF and American Society of Nephrology strongly encouraged rapid adoption of these new recommendations. Leadership efforts of the NKF have begun to lay the foundation for national implementation through laboratory engagement, clinician awareness, and patient education.

A Unifying Approach for GFR Estimation: Recommendations of the NKF-ASN Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

In response to a national call for re-evaluation of the use of race in clinical algorithms, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) established a Task Force to reassess inclusion of race in the estimation of GFR in the United States and its implications for diagnosis and management of patients with, or at risk for, kidney diseases.

PROCESS DELIBERATIONS

The Task Force organized its activities over 10 months in phases to ( 1 ) clarify the problem and evidence regarding eGFR equations in the United States (described previously in an interim report), and, in this final report, ( 2 ) evaluate approaches to address use of race in GFR estimation, and ( 3 ) provide recommendations. We identified 26 approaches for the estimation of GFR that did or did not consider race and narrowed our focus, by consensus, to five of those approaches. We holistically evaluated each approach considering six attributes: assay availability and standardization; implementation; population diversity in equation development; performance compared with measured GFR; consequences to clinical care, population tracking, and research; and patient centeredness. To arrive at a unifying approach to estimate GFR, we integrated information and evidence from many sources in assessing strengths and weaknesses in attributes for each approach, recognizing the number of Black and non-Black adults affected.

RECOMMENDATIONS

( 1 ) For US adults (>85% of whom have normal kidney function), we recommend immediate implementation of the CKD-EPI creatinine equation refit without the race variable in all laboratories in the United States because it does not include race in the calculation and reporting, included diversity in its development, is immediately available to all laboratories in the United States, and has acceptable performance characteristics and potential consequences that do not disproportionately affect any one group of individuals. ( 2 ) We recommend national efforts to facilitate increased, routine, and timely use of cystatin C, especially to confirm eGFR in adults who are at risk for or have CKD, because combining filtration markers (creatinine and cystatin C) is more accurate and would support better clinical decisions than either marker alone. If ongoing evidence supports acceptable performance, the CKD-EPI eGFR-cystatin C (eGFRcys) and eGFR creatinine-cystatin C (eGFRcr-cys_R) refit without the race variables should be adopted to provide another first-line test, in addition to confirmatory testing. ( 3 ) Research on GFR estimation with new endogenous filtration markers and on interventions to eliminate race and ethnic disparities should be encouraged and funded. An investment in science is needed for newer approaches that generate accurate, unbiased, and precise GFR measurement and estimation without the inclusion of race, and that promote health equity and do not generate disparate care.

IMPLEMENTATION

This unified approach, without specification of race, should be adopted across the United States. High-priority and multistakeholder efforts should implement this solution.

New Creatinine- and Cystatin C-Based Equations to Estimate GFR without Race

BACKGROUND

Current equations for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) that use serum creatinine or cystatin C incorporate age, sex, and race to estimate measured GFR. However, race in eGFR equations is a social and not a biologic construct.

METHODS

We developed new eGFR equations without race using data from two development data sets: 10 studies (8254 participants, 31.5% Black) for serum creatinine and 13 studies (5352 participants, 39.7% Black) for both serum creatinine and cystatin C. In a validation data set of 12 studies (4050 participants, 14.3% Black), we compared the accuracy of new eGFR equations to measured GFR. We projected the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and GFR stages in a sample of U.S. adults, using current and new equations.

RESULTS

In the validation data set, the current creatinine equation that uses age, sex, and race overestimated measured GFR in Blacks (median, 3.7 ml per minute per 1.73 m² of body-surface area; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 5.4) and to a lesser degree in non-Blacks (median, 0.5 ml per minute per 1.73 m²; 95% CI, 0.0 to 0.9). When the adjustment for Black race was omitted from the current eGFR equation, measured GFR in Blacks was underestimated (median, 7.1 ml per minute per 1.73 m²; 95% CI, 5.9 to 8.8). A new equation using age and sex and omitting race underestimated measured GFR in Blacks (median, 3.6 ml per minute per 1.73 m²; 95% CI, 1.8 to 5.5) and overestimated measured GFR in non-Blacks (median, 3.9 ml per minute per 1.73 m²; 95% CI, 3.4 to 4.4). For all equations, 85% or more of the eGFRs for Blacks and non-Blacks were within 30% of measured GFR. New creatinine-cystatin C equations without race were more accurate than new creatinine equations, with smaller differences between race groups. As compared with the current creatinine equation, the new creatinine equations, but not the new creatinine-cystatin C equations, increased population estimates of CKD prevalence among Blacks and yielded similar or lower prevalence among non-Blacks.

CONCLUSIONS

New eGFR equations that incorporate creatinine and cystatin C but omit race are more accurate and led to smaller differences between Black participants and non-Black participants than new equations without race with either creatinine or cystatin C alone. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.).

CKD Progression From the Time of Estimated GFR-Based Waitlist Eligibility and Racial Disparities in Transplant Access

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

eGFR equations that incorporate a term for race assign a higher value to Black individuals compared to non-Black individuals not attributable to sex, age, or serum creatinine. This difference may contribute to racial disparities in kidney transplant access. We sought to 1) compare time from meeting a transplant eligibility threshold of eGFR ≤20 ml/min/1.73M² to kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT) among Black, Hispanic, and White patients, and 2) assess the impact of incorporation of race into eGFR expressions on establishment of waitlist eligibility and time from eligibility to KFRT.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Using the OptumLabs® Data Warehouse, we assembled a cohort of 40,042 White, 8,519 Black, and 3,569 Hispanic patients having at least one eGFR value between 20 and 60 mL/min/1.73m² within the preceding two years and an incident outpatient eGFR of ≤20 ml/min/1.73m² between 2008-2018, using the CKD-EPI equation that includes a term for race coded as Black or non-Black. We then re-assembled a Black patient cohort based on incident eGFR ≤20 ml/min/1.73m² (n=11,269) estimated using the same CKD-EPI equation for Black patients but coding patients as non-Black.

EXPOSURE

Race/ethnicity.

OUTCOME

Time to KFRT.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Unadjusted and adjusted Fine-Gray models; linear regression to compute eGFR slopes.

RESULTS

By 3 years, the cumulative incidence of KFRT was 20.5% among White patients, 40.9% among Hispanic patients, and 36% among Black patients whose eGFR was estimated using a race term coded as Black and 28.7% among Black patients whose eGFR was estimated using a race term coded as non-Black. In fully adjusted analyses including 11,269 Black patients with an eGFR <20 ml/min/1.73m² based on coding them as non-Black, KFRT risk remained greater among Black (HR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.15-1.43) and Hispanic (HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.18-2.31) than among White patients. Based on slopes of eGFR decline, coding Black patients as non-Black would allow earlier waitlist activation by an estimated median of 0.5 years [IQR 0.27-1.23].

LIMITATIONS

Inability to exclude individuals who would not be kidney transplant candidates if comprehensively evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

A uniform eGFR threshold provides less opportunity for being placed on the transplant waitlist among Black and Hispanic patients. For many Black patients, estimation of GFR as if their race category were non-Black would allow substantially earlier waitlisting but would not eliminate their shorter time to KFRT and reduced opportunity for preemptive transplantation compared to White patients.

Association between neighborhood social cohesion, awareness of chronic diseases, and participation in healthy behaviors in a community cohort

Background

Neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) is the network of relationships as well as the shared values and norms of residents in a neighborhood. Higher NSC has been associated with improved cardiovascular health, largely among Whites but not African Americans. In a bi-racial cohort, we aimed to study the association between NSC and chronic disease awareness and engagement in healthy self-management behaviors, two potential mechanisms by which NSC could impact cardiovascular health outcomes.

Methods

Using the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Lifespan Study (HANDLS), we cross-sectionally examined the association between NSC and awareness of three chronic conditions (diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and hypertension) and engagement in healthy self-management behaviors including physical activity, healthy eating, and cigarette avoidance.

Results

Study participants (n = 2082) had a mean age of 56.5 years; 38.7% were White and 61.4% African American. Of the participants, 26% had diabetes, 70% had hypertension and 20.2% had CKD. Mean NSC was 3.3 (SD = 0.80) on a scale of 1 (lowest score) to 5 (highest score). There was no significant association between NSC and any chronic disease awareness, overall or by race. However, each higher point in mean NSC score was associated with less cigarette use and healthier eating scores, among Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: =0.76, 0.61–0.94; beta coefficient [βc]:, 95% CI: 1.75; 0.55–2.97, respectively) but not African Americans (aOR = 0.95, 0.79–1.13; βc: 0.46, − 0.48–1.39, respectively; P_interaction = 0.08 and 0.06). Among both Whites and African Americans, higher NSC scores were associated with increases in self-reported physical activity (βc: 0.12; 0.08–0.16; P_interaction = 0.40).

Conclusions

Community engagement and neighborhood social cohesion may be important targets for promotion of healthy behaviors and cardiovascular disease prevention. More research is needed to understand the different associations of NSC and healthy behaviors by race.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11633-8.

Trends in Chronic Kidney Disease Care in the US by Race and Ethnicity, 2012-2019

Importance

Significant racial and ethnic disparities in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and outcomes are well documented, as is low use of guideline-recommended CKD care.

Objective

To examine guideline-recommended CKD care delivery by race and ethnicity in a large, diverse population.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this serial cross-sectional study, adult patients with CKD that did not require dialysis, defined as a persistent estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a urine albumin-creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or higher for at least 90 days, were identified in 2-year cross-sections from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2019. Data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse, a national data set of administrative and electronic health record data for commercially insured and Medicare Advantage patients, were used.

Exposures

The independent variables were race and ethnicity, as reported in linked electronic health records.

Main Outcomes and Measures

On the basis of guideline-recommended CKD care, the study examined care delivery process measures (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker prescription for albuminuria, statin prescription, albuminuria testing, nephrology care for CKD stage 4 or higher, and avoidance of chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescription) and care delivery outcome measures (blood pressure and diabetes control).

Results

A total of 452 238 patients met the inclusion criteria (mean [SD] age, 74.0 [10.2] years; 262 089 [58.0%] female; a total of 7573 [1.7%] Asian, 49 970 [11.0%] Black, 15 540 [3.4%] Hispanic, and 379 155 [83.8%] White). Performance on process measures was higher among Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients compared with White patients for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blocker use (79.8% for Asian patients, 76.7% for Black patients, and 79.9% for Hispanic patients compared with 72.3% for White patients in 2018-2019), statin use (72.6% for Asian patients, 69.1% for Black patients, and 74.1% for Hispanic patients compared with 61.5% for White patients), nephrology care (64.8% for Asian patients, 72.9% for Black patients, and 69.4% for Hispanic patients compared with 58.3% for White patients), and albuminuria testing (53.9% for Asian patients, 41.0% for Black patients, and 52.6% for Hispanic patients compared with 30.7% for White patients). Achievement of blood pressure control to less than 140/90 mm Hg was similar or lower among Asian (71.8%), Black (63.3%), and Hispanic (69.8%) patients compared with White patients (72.9%). Achievement of diabetes control with hemoglobin A1c less than 7.0% was 50.1% in Asian patients, 49.3% in Black patients, and 46.0% in Hispanic patients compared with 50.3% for White patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

Higher performance on CKD care process measures among Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients suggests that differences in medication prescription and diagnostic testing are unlikely to fully explain known disparities in CKD progression and kidney failure. Improving care delivery processes alone may be inadequate for reducing these disparities.

Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases: An Interim Report From the NKF-ASN Task Force

For almost 2 decades, equations that use serum creatinine, age, sex, and race to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have included "race" as Black or non-Black. Given considerable evidence of disparities in health and health care delivery in African American communities, some regard keeping a race term in GFR equations as a practice that differentially influences access to care and kidney transplantation. Others assert that race captures important non-GFR determinants of serum creatinine and its removal from the calculation may perpetuate other disparities. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and American Society of Nephrology (ASN) established a task force in 2020 to reassess the inclusion of race in the estimation of GFR in the United States and its implications for diagnosis and subsequent management of patients with, or at risk for, kidney diseases. This interim report details the process, initial assessment of evidence, and values defined regarding the use of race to estimate GFR. We organized activities in phases: (1) clarify the problem and examine evidence, (2) evaluate different approaches to address use of race in GFR estimation, and (3) make recommendations. In phase 1, we constructed statements about the evidence and defined values regarding equity and disparities; race and racism; GFR measurement, estimation, and equation performance; laboratory standardization; and patient perspectives. We also identified several approaches to estimate GFR and a set of attributes to evaluate these approaches. Building on evidence and values, the attributes of alternative approaches to estimate GFR will be evaluated in the next phases and recommendations will be made.

Patient Awareness of CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Patient-Oriented Questions and Study Setting

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Patient awareness of disease is the first step toward effective management and disease control. Awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has consistently been shown to be low, but studies estimating patient awareness of CKD have used different methods. We sought to determine whether the estimated prevalence of CKD awareness differed by the wording used to ascertain awareness or by setting characteristics.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING & STUDY POPULATIONS

Adults with CKD not receiving dialysis.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES

We included studies that estimated CKD awareness, determined CKD status by laboratory criteria, and provided the exact question wording used to ascertain awareness.

DATA EXTRACTION

2 reviewers independently extracted data for each study; discordance was resolved by a third independent reviewer.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Mixed-effects models were used to calculate pooled CKD awareness estimates and 95% CIs.

RESULTS

32 studies were included. Publication year ranged from 2004 to 2017, with study populations ranging from 107 to 28,923 individuals. CKD awareness in individual studies ranged from 0.9% to 94.0%. Pooled CKD awareness was 19.2% (95% CI, 10.0%-33.6%) overall and was 26.5% (95% CI, 11.9%-48.9%) among individuals with an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. "Kidney problem" was the most sensitive question for CKD awareness (58.7%; 95% CI, 32.4%-80.8%); "weak or failing kidneys" was the least sensitive (12.3%; 95% CI, 4.5%-29.4%). CKD awareness was highest among patients from nephrology practices (86.2%; 95% CI, 74.9%-93.0%) and lowest in the general population (7.3%; 95% CI, 5.0%-10.5%).

LIMITATIONS

Significant heterogeneity across studies overall and among examined subgroups of wording and study setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Differently worded questions may lead to widely different estimates of CKD awareness. Consistent terminology is likely needed to most effectively surveil and leverage CKD awareness to improve management and disease control.

Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases: An Interim Report from the NKF-ASN Task Force

For almost two decades, equations that use serum creatinine, age, sex, and race to eGFR have included "race" as Black or non-Black. Given considerable evidence of disparities in health and healthcare delivery in African American communities, some regard keeping a race term in GFR equations as a practice that differentially influences access to care and kidney transplantation. Others assert that race captures important non GFR determinants of serum creatinine and its removal from the calculation may perpetuate other disparities. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and American Society of Nephrology (ASN) established a task force in 2020 to reassess the inclusion of race in the estimation of GFR in the United States and its implications for diagnosis and subsequent management of patients with, or at risk for, kidney diseases. This interim report details the process, initial assessment of evidence, and values defined regarding the use of race to estimate GFR. We organized activities in phases: (1) clarify the problem and examine evidence, (2) evaluate different approaches to address use of race in GFR estimation, and (3) make recommendations. In phase one, we constructed statements about the evidence and defined values regarding equity and disparities; race and racism; GFR measurement, estimation, and equation performance; laboratory standardization; and patient perspectives. We also identified several approaches to estimate GFR and a set of attributes to evaluate these approaches. Building on evidence and values, the attributes of alternative approaches to estimate GFR will be evaluated in the next phases and recommendations will be made.

Dietary Factors and Prevention: Risk of End-Stage Kidney Disease by Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

BACKGROUND

The association between fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has not been examined in the general population and fully explored in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We prospectively evaluated this relationship in US representative sample of adults and evaluated consistency by the presence or absence, and severity, of CKD.

METHODS

We used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) linked with the US Renal Data System, including 14,725 adults aged ≥20 years and with follow-up for ESKD through 2008. Daily FV intake was ascertained using a food frequency questionnaire. We examined the association between selected categories of FV intake and ESKD using a Fine Gray competing risk model adjusting for sociodemographics, lifestyle, clinical and nutritional factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albuminuria. We evaluated whether risk varied in individuals with severe versus any CKD.

RESULTS

230 participants (1.5%) developed ESKD during follow-up. In the adjusted model, compared to highest intake, those in lowest categories of FV intake had a higher risk of ESKD, for <2 times/day (1.45 [1.24-1.68], 2 to <3 times/day (1.40 [1.18-1.61]), 3 to <4 times/day (1.25 [1.04-1.46]), and 4 to <6 times/day (1.14 [0.97-1.31]). There was suggestion of heterogeneity (p for interaction = 0.03) with possible stronger inverse association in patients with CKD than those without CKD. After stratification, we obtained similar strong inverse association when we examined ESKD incidence across intake of FVs in participants with CKD stages 1-4 (n = 5,346) and specifically in those with CKD stages 3-4 (n = 1,084).

CONCLUSIONS

Low intake of FVs was associated with higher risk of ESKD in US adults with and without CKD, supporting an emerging body of literature on the potential benefits of plant-rich diets for prevention of ESKD.

Experiences of Latinx Individuals Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

IMPORTANCE

Latinx individuals, particularly immigrants, are at higher risk than non-Latinx White individuals of contracting and dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about Latinx experiences with COVID-19 infection and treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the experiences of Latinx individuals who were hospitalized with and survived COVID-19.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The qualitative study used semistructured phone interviews of 60 Latinx adults who survived a COVID-19 hospitalization in public hospitals in San Francisco, California, and Denver, Colorado, from March 2020 to July 2020. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Data analysis was conducted from May 2020 to September 2020.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Themes and subthemes that reflected patient experiences.

RESULTS

Sixty people (24 women and 36 men; mean [SD] age, 48 [12] years) participated. All lived in low-income areas, 47 participants (78%) had more than 4 people in the home, and most (44 participants [73%]) were essential workers. Four participants (9%) could work from home, 12 (20%) had paid sick leave, and 21 (35%) lost their job because of COVID-19. We identified 5 themes (and subthemes) with public health and clinical care implications: COVID-19 was a distant and secondary threat (invincibility, misinformation and disbelief, ingrained social norms); COVID-19 was a compounder of disadvantage (fear of unemployment and eviction, lack of safeguards for undocumented immigrants, inability to protect self from COVID-19, and high-density housing); reluctance to seek medical care (worry about health care costs, concerned about ability to access care if uninsured or undocumented, undocumented immigrants fear deportation); health care system interactions (social isolation and change in hospital procedures, appreciation for clinicians and language access, and discharge with insufficient resources or clinical information); and faith and community resiliency (spirituality, Latinx COVID-19 advocates).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In interviews, Latinx patients with COVID-19 who survived hospitalization described initial disease misinformation and economic and immigration fears as having driven exposure and delays in presentation. To confront COVID-19 as a compounder of social disadvantage, public health authorities should mitigate COVID-19-related misinformation, immigration fears, and challenges to health care access, as well as create policies that provide work protection and address economic disadvantages.