Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and often unnoticed condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The kidneys are essential organs that filter waste from the blood, regulate blood pressure, and maintain the balance of electrolytes. Unfortunately, many people do not realize they have kidney disease until it has progressed significantly, making it crucial to understand the risk factors involved.
By being aware of what can increase your likelihood of CKD, you can take proactive steps to protect your health and potentially prevent this disease.
Major CKD Risk Factors
Here are the biggest kidney disease risk factors to know about.
Diabetes
The relationship between diabetes and kidney disease is strong, as diabetes is one of the leading causes of CKD. In fact, as many as one in three adults with diabetes will develop kidney disease. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste from the blood effectively.
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the second highest risk factor. The increased pressure in the cardiovascular system can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing their efficiency and causing kidney damage.
Heart Disease
Heart disease and kidney disease often go hand in hand. If you have either one of these conditions, you’re more likely to develop the other as well. People with heart disease are at a higher risk of developing kidney disease due to the closely interconnected nature of these organs. Poor heart health can lead to reduced blood flow to the kidneys, contributing to their decline.
Family History
Genetic factors can play a role in your susceptibility to kidney damage.If you have close relatives with kidney disease, you may be more likely to develop the condition yourself.
Obesity
There is a strong correlation between obesity and kidney disease. Excess body weight can lead to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, which in turn increase the risk of kidney damage. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise is crucial for reducing your risk.
Smoking or Using Tobacco
Smoking tobacco or using it in other forms can harm your kidneys in multiple ways. It can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, increase blood pressure, and exacerbate existing kidney problems. Quitting smoking is one of the single most effective ways to improve your overall health and reduce the risk of kidney disease.
Additional Risk Factors
Other health conditions that can lead to CKD include:
- Being age 60 or over
- Having had a low birth weight
- Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve, aspirin, and many prescription-strength pain medications over a prolonged period
- Having lupus or other autoimmune disorders
- Experiencing chronic urinary tract infections
- Having kidney stones
How Race, Ethnicity, and Social Determinants of Health Play a Role
Race and Ethnicity
Another major risk factor for CKD is race and ethnicity. The following communities of color are more likely to develop kidney disease than their white counterparts:
- African Americans
- Hispanics or Latinos
- Asian Americans
- Indigenous peoples, including Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Alaska Natives
This reality is partly due to higher rates of diabetes and hypertension in these populations and to the fact that some races experience greater severity and complications of risk factors than white groups. For example, diabetes and high blood pressure have a greater detrimental impact on African Americans, as these conditions cause kidney failure in this demographic at higher rates.
Social Determinants of Health
However, genetics and biology play a relatively minor role in someone’s likelihood of developing CKD. External factors — which aren’t inherently connected to one’s racial makeup — can also be strong contributors to CKD. These are called social determinants of health (SDOH), and they disproportionately detract from wellness in communities of color.
What Are Social Determinants of Health?
SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. They include socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks. SDOH can significantly impact a myriad of health outcomes, including the risk of developing kidney disease.
Factors such as lower socioeconomic status, structural or institutionalized racism, limited access to healthcare, limited access to affordable healthy foods, and unhealthy living environments contribute to the higher prevalence of kidney disease among minority groups, creating an avoidable and unjust relationship between race and health.
SDOH in Alabama
In Alabama, the impact of SDOH on kidney disease is all too evident. Alabama’s population faces significant disparities in access to major contributors to good health, such as access to health care, healthy food options, and educational attainment. Consequently, the state also has high rates of major risk factors for kidney disease, including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach, including improving access to health care and support for a healthy lifestyle. In the short term, residents of Alabama impacted by poor SDOH or kidney disease should consider seeking out government and nonprofit resources for assistance.
Understanding the risk factors for kidney disease is vital for prevention and early intervention, as is mitigating and eliminating negative SDOH in all communities. By being proactive and educating yourself about these risk factors, you can take steps to protect your kidney health and reduce your risk of developing kidney disease.
Protect Your Kidneys With the Alabama Kidney Foundation
Alabama ranks first in the number of dialysis patients per capita in the United States, and currently, over 1,000 Alabama residents are waiting for a kidney transplant. The Alabama Kidney Foundation provides education, support services, and financial assistance to low-income kidney dialysis patients. The Foundation also provides statewide education to promote organ donation awareness and prevention of kidney disease.
We help connect patients to experts who can provide information on how to manage everything, including dialysis treatment, transplant surgery, and the mental toll that comes with a kidney disease diagnosis. Contact us today to learn how we can help you!
Wondering what you can do to help? Consider volunteering with us to support Alabamian kidney health, or support us wherever you are by donating to our campaign online today!
