constant state of fear and stress for several years, all because of the eGFR tests.
RELATED: Why African Americans Are Waiting Longer for a Kidney Transplant
One Test Prevents Black Patients From Receiving Kidney Transplants
Unfortunately, life throws curve balls at us. However, Higgins’ curveball threw her for a serious loop. In general, Black people are almost four times as likely to be diagnosed with renal failure as white people. However, they often receive a late diagnosis, which in turn, leads to a longer wait time on getting a transplant. In particular, some eGFR tests have “a race variable that can detect if a person identifies as African-American or not.”
Even worse, it can overestimate and underestimate kidney function in Black patients. Unfortunately, this can lead to miscalculations of the severity of the disease, result in a late diagnosis, and could even delay kidney transplants for patients like Kristal Higgins. Additional research shows that “race-inclusive eGFR calculations can disadvantage Black people with kidney disease by erroneously estimating that they have a higher level of kidney function than people with a race-neutral eGFR result.”
Furthermore, the tests have drawn much scrutiny from health experts and led many to make changes. For instance, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network board recently approved a waiting time adjustment for Black patients.
According to Dr. Martha Pavlakis, the nephrologist and kidney transplantation committee chair at the network says, “It’s a restorative justice project in medicine.”
In turn, the policy will backdate the waiting time of Black kidney transplant candidates who’ve been waiting years for an organ donation. Furthermore, the policy requests kidney transplant programs to identify and notify the Black candidates who should’ve made the lists sooner. Now programs have a year to give the names of patients and apply to the network for waiting time adjustments.
While Kristal Higgins received her transplant at a later date, she wishes a policy such as this existed six years ago. The mother of one and wife now wonders “what if my time could’ve been shortened?”
Higgins Joins The National Kidney Foundation
Fortunately, Kristal Higgins found herself in good hands after becoming a patient advocate at The National Kidney Foundation. Furthermore, the organization promotes awareness of the chronic disease and seeks funding for effective treatment options.
More importantly, they’ve had a hand in carrying out the new policy mandate for more improved eGFR tests and helping patients receive kidney transplants sooner than later. Now, the nursing student hopes that others won’t have to go through the same struggles she did to receive a kidney transplant.