Chronic kidney disease in disadvantaged populations
Garcia-Garcia G., Jha V.
Copyright © 2015, Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Ltd. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved. The increased burden of CKD in disadvantaged populations is because of global factors and population-specific issues. Low socioeconomic status and poor access to care contribute to health care disparities and exacerbate the negative effects of genetic or biologic predisposition. Providing appropriate renal care to these populations requires a two-pronged approach: (1) expanding the reach of dialysis through the development of low-cost alternatives that can be practiced in remote locations, and (2) implementing and evaluating cost-effective prevention strategies. Kidney transplantation should be promoted by expanding deceased donor transplant programs and using inexpensive generic immunosuppressive drugs. The message of WKD 2015 is that a concerted attack against diseases that lead to ESRD could end the unacceptable relationship between CKD and disadvantage in these communities by increasing community outreach, providing better education, and improving economic opportunity and access to preventive medicine for people at highest risk.