End-stage renal disease among the Zuni Indians: 1973-1983.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the Zuni Indians with end-stage renal disease from July 1973 through December 1983. Thirty-eight cases of end-stage renal disease were compiled. We report a prevalence of 2902/10(6) for 1983 and an average annual incidence over the study period of 722/10(6)/y. This prevalence is 10.9 times the rate for all whites of Arizona and New Mexico and 3.6 times the rate for all Indians of Arizona and New Mexico. The Zuni incidence is 8.6 times the incidence for Arizona and New Mexico. The most frequent causes were chronic glomerulonephritis (40%) and diabetic nephropathy (24%). In 21% of the cases no cause could be assigned. The cause for these high rates of end-stage renal disease is unknown. Hypotheses with preliminary clinical findings are presented. Further comprehensive study is recommended.