Identifying kidney health disparities: first step to equitable healthcare access

Dr Barnaby Hole

UK Kidney Association and the University of Bristol

Sue Lyon

Chair, UK Kidney Association Patient Council

Learn about the complexities of kidney health in the UK. Explore disparities in ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex and age impacting outcomes.

In the UK, kidney health disparities present a complex challenge. With over 7.2 million people grappling with chronic kidney disease, as reported by Kidney Research UK, the urgency for a collective, informed response has never been greater.

Latest data highlights kidney health disparities

A newly released ‘Disparities Report,’ utilising the latest data from the UK Renal Registry and spearheaded by kidney patients themselves, vividly illustrates the complex landscape of kidney disease. It emphasises how factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex and age distinctly shape the risk, treatment and outcomes associated with the condition.

Ethnicity and socioeconomic factors

Ethnicity plays a significant role in the incidence and management of kidney disease. Black and other UK minority ethnic populations face higher rates of kidney failure — and at younger ages — compared to their white counterparts. This is underscored by the disproportionate impact of diabetes, particularly prominent among Asian and Black populations, as a leading cause of kidney failure.

However, the challenge doesn’t end at diagnosis. Socioeconomic factors also have an impact, with individuals in deprived areas facing not just a higher risk of kidney failure and diabetes but also reduced access to treatments that provide the greatest freedom and flexibility like home therapies and transplantation.

Males are more likely to experience
kidney failure at all stages of life.

Age and sex disparities

Sex and age disparities in kidney health further complicate the healthcare landscape. Older individuals are more likely to begin treatment for kidney failure and experience lower survival rates. Males are more likely to experience kidney failure at all stages of life. 

While adult males and females appear equally able to access transplantation, boys appear more likely to receive a transplant at the onset of their treatment than girls. Transplantation is the first line of treatment for one in five children, but disparities in access to transplantation between boys and girls suggest work is needed to ensure all children have equal access to optimal treatment.

Addressing broader health equity

Addressing these disparities requires a concerted effort from healthcare providers, policymakers and the community. It calls for a deeper understanding of the underlying causes and a commitment to developing targeted interventions that ensure equitable access to kidney care for all individuals.

This focus on kidney health disparities is a crucial step towards understanding and mitigating the broader issue of health inequalities in the UK. It challenges us to look beyond the medical aspects of kidney disease and consider the social determinants of health that contribute to these disparities, ensuring that everyone — regardless of background — has access to the care and treatment they need.

The UK Kidney Association

The UKKA is the leading professional body for the UK kidney community. Since 1950, they have been committed to making tangible, innovative improvements to the care of people living with kidney disease, achieved through the support of professionals and the kidney health system.