Renal Disease and Kidney Transplantation in Hispanic American Persons

Abstract

The Hispanic population of the United States is the second largest racial or ethnic group, comprising 18.7% of the population. However, this population is incredibly heterogeneous differing in genetic traits, cultural upbringing, educational backgrounds, and financial status. The impact of this heterogeneity on the prevalence and outcomes of renal disease and kidney transplantation is understudied compared with non-Hispanic White and Black populations. What is known appears to be underrecognized. This review aims to critically assess current medical literature on Hispanic individuals, focusing on etiological factors, disease progression, and outcomes related to CKD and kidney transplantation. By doing so, we aim to underscore key areas for further in-depth investigation.

Figure 1

Map showing the ten US states with the largest Hispanic populations. (From ref. 5).

Figure 2

Hispanic groups in different US metropolitan areas, 2017. This figure shows that the country of origin of Hispanic persons in different US cities differs widely. For example, Hispanic individuals in the Los Angeles and Houston areas primarily identify Mexico as their country of origin, whereas the majority in Orlando identify Guatemala as their country of origin. Other cities have a mixture of populations with no clear majority. The subgroups are more diverse in the Eastern United States (From ref. 8). CA, California; DC, District of Columbia; FL, Florida; MA, Massachusetts; MD, Maryland; NJ, New Jersey; NY, New York; PA, Pennsylvania; RI, Rhode Island; TX, Texas; VA, Virginia; WV, West Virginia.