Blacks' kidney failure rate explained

ATLANTA, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Blacks are more likely to excrete protein in their urine than whites and this may account for why blacks have more kidney failure, U.S. researchers say.

Dr. William McClellan of Emory University and colleagues analyzed information from 27,911 individuals -- 40.5 percent African-Americans. Among the findings:

-- After an average follow-up of 3.6 years, 133 individuals developed kidney failure.

-- There were 96 cases of kidney failure among African Americans and 37 among whites.

-- Kidney failure was most common in individuals who excreted large amounts of protein in their urine.

-- African-Americans were more likely to excrete large amounts of protein in their urine than whites.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology, finds African-Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than whites.

The study investigators speculate several factors may explain why African-Americans tend to excrete more protein in their urine including: blood pressure and other heart-related factors, obesity, smoking, vitamin D levels, genetic differences, income and birth weight.

The findings are published in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology.