[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E553]]



    INCREASING AWARENESS OF KIDNEY DISEASE IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2006

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, as Congress recognizes National 
Minority Health Month, I join my colleagues, Congressman Watt and 
Congressman Jefferson to increase awareness about the devastating 
effects of kidney disease on the African American community.
  Both kidney failure and its precursor, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), 
disproportionately affect African Americans. Although only about 13 
percent of the U.S. population, African Americans make up 32 percent of 
the patients treated for kidney failure. The American Heart Association 
reports that African Americans have a 4.2 times greater rate of kidney 
failure than white Americans. The Congressional Black Caucus is 
especially concerned about the growing prevalence of kidney disease 
because of this disproportionate impact.
  Mr. Speaker, the leading causes of kidney disease are diabetes and 
high blood pressure, both of which also disproportionately affect 
African Americans. Diabetes occurs at twice the rate in the African 
American community than it does with Caucasians. High blood pressure 
affects 1 out of every 3 African American adults. According to the 
American Heart Association, the prevalence of hypertension in the 
African American community is among the highest in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, African Americans are four times more likely to develop 
kidney failure than Caucasians. African Americans make up 12 percent of 
the population but account for 30 percent of people with kidney 
failure. Diabetes and high blood pressure account for about 70 percent 
of kidney failure in African Americans. A recent National Kidney 
Disease Education Program (NKDEP) survey of African Americans found 
that only 17 percent named kidney disease as a consequence of diabetes, 
and only 8 percent named it as a consequence of high blood pressure. 
African American males ages 22-44 are 20 times more likely to develop 
kidney failure due to high blood pressure than Caucasian males in the 
same age group. Forty-five percent of African American men with kidney 
failure received late referrals to nephrologists. In some cases people 
were not aware they had a problem until they needed dialysis.

  We must continue our strong support of the efforts of the kidney care 
community to meet the needs of these patients. We must fund education 
programs to raise awareness of the disease within the African American 
community. We must ensure that Medicare treats those who care for 
patients with kidney disease the same way it treats all other groups of 
providers--this means enacting an annual update mechanism to recognize 
inflation and other increases related to caring for these patients. 
Without equitable reimbursement, it will be difficult for the community 
to continue to meet the needs of the ever-growing patient population.
  Supporting educational programs and high quality care not only 
improves quality of life for patients, but also reduces the cost to the 
overburdened Medicare program. Preventing kidney failure and improving 
care will result in substantial savings for the government. In 
addition, if treated early, individuals with kidney disease will 
experience an improved quality of life and be able to maintain more 
daily life activities, including keeping their jobs.
  My colleagues and I applaud the efforts to increase awareness about 
this important issue and to show support for Americans living with 
kidney disease. We must act now to help Americans learn more about this 
deadly disease and how to prevent its development and progression to 
kidney failure.

                          ____________________