Kidney Disease in Native Americans & Alaskan Natives

Background

More than 5.6 million Native American and Alaskan Natives currently live in the US and comprise 1.8% of the population¹. Federally recognized tribes are provided comprehensive primary health care and disease prevention through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Services (IHS).^2,3 IHS provides care for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives; however about 20% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives under 65 years of age are uninsured.^2,3 IHS program focusing on diabetes and kidney health decreased diabetes related kidney failure in Native Americans by 54% between 1996-2013.^4,5,6 However, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives are still twice as likely to be diagnosed with kidney disease compared to non-Hispanic whites.⁷ Studies have shown high rates of early kidney disease among non-diabetic patients as well.⁸ 

Did You Know?

Studies have identified a higher occurrence of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis; predominantly IgA in non-diabetic American Indians.⁹ A study looking at renal biopsy specimens of 166 patients found a high proportion (68%) with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, which was much greater than those seen in a biopsy series of non-Native Americans (23.5%).¹⁰ 

Why Attend This Webinar?

This webinar discussion featuring Dr. Ashar Luqman will discuss the prevalence of various common and rare kidney diseases and comorbidities among the Native American population.

What You Will Learn 

1. Prevalence of CKD, comorbidities, and mortality as it relates to the Native American and Alaskan Native population. 
2. Common health insurance coverage and access to care issues among American Indians and Alaska Natives. 
3. How IgA Nephropathy affects patients of Native American and Alaskan Native population. 

References 

1. Shah, V.O., Parker, T., de Sosa, G.R. et al. Chronic kidney disease in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Nat Rev Nephrol 2024; 20: 487–488. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00859-5 
2. Indian Health Services Health Equity Report 2024. https://www.ihs.gov/sites/newsroom/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/factsheets/IHS_Health_Equity_Report_FactSheet_2024.pdf 
3. ASPE Office of Health Policy – Issue Brief. Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Recent Trends and Key Challenges. June 2024. 
4. Special Diabetes Program for Indians 2020 Report to Congress: Changing the Course of Diabetes: Charting Remarkable Progress [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Indian Health Service (US); 2020. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571291/ 
5. National Kidney Foundation. Kidney Disease: Fact Sheet. https://www.kidney.org/about/kidney-disease-fact-sheet  
6. CDC. Vital signs: Native American with Diabetes. Vital Signs: Native Americans with Diabetes | CDC Archive.  
7. OMH. Diabetes and American Indians/Alaskan Natives. 3/1/2021 
8. Narva, Andrew S. The spectrum of kidney disease in American Indians. Kidney International 2003; 63s83. 
9. Shah VO, et al. Epidemic of Diabetic and Nondiabetic Renal Disease among the Zuni Indians: The Zuni Kidney Project. JASN 2003.    
10. Hoy WE. Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis in Southwestern American Indians. AJKD 1993;21:486-96.