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Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Eneanya, ND; Boulware, LE; Tsai, J; Bruce, MA; Ford, CL; Harris, C; Morales, LS; Ryan, MJ; Reese, PP; Thorpe, RJ; Morse, M; Walker, V ...
Published in: Nat Rev Nephrol
February 2022

Chronic kidney disease is an important clinical condition beset with racial and ethnic disparities that are associated with social inequities. Many medical schools and health centres across the USA have raised concerns about the use of race - a socio-political construct that mediates the effect of structural racism - as a fixed, measurable biological variable in the assessment of kidney disease. We discuss the role of race and racism in medicine and outline many of the concerns that have been raised by the medical and social justice communities regarding the use of race in estimated glomerular filtration rate equations, including its relationship with structural racism and racial inequities. Although race can be used to identify populations who experience racism and subsequent differential treatment, ignoring the biological and social heterogeneity within any racial group and inferring innate individual-level attributes is methodologically flawed. Therefore, although more accurate measures for estimating kidney function are under investigation, we support the use of biomarkers for determining estimated glomerular filtration rate without adjustments for race. Clinicians have a duty to recognize and elucidate the nuances of racism and its effects on health and disease. Otherwise, we risk perpetuating historical racist concepts in medicine that exacerbate health inequities and impact marginalized patient populations.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Nat Rev Nephrol

DOI

EISSN

1759-507X

Publication Date

February 2022

Volume

18

Issue

2

Start / End Page

84 / 94

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Urology & Nephrology
  • United States
  • Social Justice
  • Racism
  • Nephrology
  • Humans
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Health Inequities
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Eneanya, N. D., Boulware, L. E., Tsai, J., Bruce, M. A., Ford, C. L., Harris, C., … Norris, K. C. (2022). Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology. Nat Rev Nephrol, 18(2), 84–94. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-021-00501-8
Eneanya, Nwamaka D., L Ebony Boulware, Jennifer Tsai, Marino A. Bruce, Chandra L. Ford, Christina Harris, Leo S. Morales, et al. “Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology.Nat Rev Nephrol 18, no. 2 (February 2022): 84–94. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-021-00501-8.
Eneanya ND, Boulware LE, Tsai J, Bruce MA, Ford CL, Harris C, et al. Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2022 Feb;18(2):84–94.
Eneanya, Nwamaka D., et al. “Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology.Nat Rev Nephrol, vol. 18, no. 2, Feb. 2022, pp. 84–94. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/s41581-021-00501-8.
Eneanya ND, Boulware LE, Tsai J, Bruce MA, Ford CL, Harris C, Morales LS, Ryan MJ, Reese PP, Thorpe RJ, Morse M, Walker V, Arogundade FA, Lopes AA, Norris KC. Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2022 Feb;18(2):84–94.

Published In

Nat Rev Nephrol

DOI

EISSN

1759-507X

Publication Date

February 2022

Volume

18

Issue

2

Start / End Page

84 / 94

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Urology & Nephrology
  • United States
  • Social Justice
  • Racism
  • Nephrology
  • Humans
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Health Inequities
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences