Chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in disadvantaged communities of North America: an investigational challenge to limit disease progression and cardiovascular risk.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are growing public health issues associated with significant morbidity and mortality around the world. In the United States, Black and Hispanic minorities suffer higher rates of CKD and ESRD, mostly attributed to Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD). DKD is the leading cause of both CKD and ESRD in the developed world and disproportionately affects minority populations such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Aboriginal Americans in comparison with Whites. This review will discuss the incidence, prevalence, and etiology of renal disease in disadvantaged minorities in the U.S. and will take a closer look at diabetic kidney disease as it is the primary cause of kidney disease in these populations.