Approximately 37 million American adults, or 15% of the U.S. adult population, are estimated to suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nine out of 10 of those cases go undiagnosed. Researchers recently discovered an important risk factor to consider—your community’s overall socioeconomic status (SES), which includes income level, education level, and occupation—can influence your risk of CKD.*

What researchers found

Researchers out of Drexel University analyzed almost 24,000 adults in Philadelphia, and they found that those living in low socioeconomic status neighborhoods were more likely to have kidney disease than those living in higher socioeconomic status neighborhoods.

They also found that poor neighborhood walkability, which was measured by Walkscore®, was associated with:

• Poor blood sugar control in CKD patients
• Poor blood pressure control in those without CKD

Proper regulation of blood pressure and blood glucose is pertinent for warding off further damage to the kidneys, potentially leading to kidney failure and dialysis—or a kidney transplant as last resort.

According to the study’s senior author, Meera Harhay, MD, “…neighborhood environments that promote physical activity are protective when it comes to blood pressure and blood sugar management, whereas less walkable neighborhoods might exacerbate conditions that are risk factors for kidney disease.”

How to incorporate this knowledge into healthcare

“This study offers tools to help identify communities at higher risk of kidney disease at earlier stages,” stated Dr. Harhay, “so their condition can be managed to prevent end-stage kidney disease from developing.”

Since people living in neighborhoods with the fewest resources are at the highest risk for kidney disease, researchers suggest that health providers should integrate knowledge about their patients’ communities into their assessments. In addition, policymakers should allocate resources to at-risk communities that will promote health. 

Exploring the impact of socioeconomic status on the risk of CKD is important, but future studies are needed to look at the impact of SES on the progression of chronic kidney disease, as well as the impact on access to information for self-care and chronic disease management that might help prevent CKD.

*Richter, G. R. (2020, Aug. 23). Your Neighborhood May Raise Your Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. DrexelNow. https://drexel.edu/now/archive/2020/September/Your-Neighborhood-May-Raise-Your-Risk-of-Chronic-Kidney-Disease/