(May 2, 2024, New York, NY)—TIME has included the co-chairs of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)/ American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases, among its first-ever list of the 100 most influential people in global health. The magazine recognized Cynthia Delgado, MD, FASN and Neil R. Powe, MD, FASN for their efforts to correct racial bias in the algorithm used to diagnose kidney diseases, an algorithm that often determines access to a kidney transplant.
In 2020, the NKF-ASN Task Force's final report outlined a new race-free approach to estimate kidney function. To eliminate the variable of race from kidney function estimates, recommendations included adopting a new equation that uses a biological marker (creatinine) available in all laboratories, has high performance compared to gold standard measurements, incorporates data from a diverse patient population, is patient-centered, and considers the range of clinical consequences affected by kidney function. For decades, even before race-free equations were introduced, Black Americans have been less likely to be wait-listed for or to receive a kidney transplant than their White counterparts, despite being four times more likely to experience kidney failure.
Under the updated, race-free algorithm, some Black patients recently received modified times on the wait list for a kidney transplant. In addition to recommending the use of the race-free algorithm, the Task Force also recommended national efforts to facilitate increased, routine, and timely use of cystatin C (cysC), especially to confirm estimated GFR in adults who are at risk for or have chronic kidney disease (CKD), because cysC is not affected by race and combining filtration markers (creatinine and cysC) would support more accurate clinical decisions than either marker alone. The decision prompted the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s re-evaluation of race-based estimating equations for transplant listing and donor eligibility. These changes mean that access to kidney transplantation is more equitably available to all United States patients.
The TIME100 Health List recognizes the world’s most influential individuals in health across five categories: Innovators, Titans, Pioneers, Leaders, and Catalysts. The full list and related tributes are currently available at https://time.com/collection/time100-health/ and will appear in the May 13, 2024, print issue of TIME., available on newsstands on Friday, May 3.
Follow @TIME for updates about the list on Twitter and Instagram and at Facebook.com/TIME.
#TIME100HEALTH
About the American Society of Nephrology
Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has nearly 22,000 members representing 141 countries. For more information, visit www.asn-online.org and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about kidney disease, please visit www.kidney.org and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram.
# # #