Disparities in End-Organ Care for Hispanic Patients with Kidney and Liver Disease: Implications for Access to Transplantation

Purpose of Review Hispanics experience kidney and liver disease with a higher incidence and greater severity than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Higher baseline rates of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and alcoholism, combined with a variety of ill-defined socioeconomic and cultural factors create significant disparities in access to abdominal organ transplantation. Moreover, a consistently lower rate of organ donation among Hispanics suggests a lack of awareness, education, and/or acceptance of transplant-related practices. Recent Findings Recent work has demonstrated that culturally competent interventions make tangible differences in the rate of kidney and liver transplantation for Hispanic candidates, including rates of living donation. Thus, through the implementation of culturally competent methods of outreach and treatment, Hispanics can receive improved end-organ care. Summary It stands to reason that if culturally competent methods of outreach and treatment are implemented across the country, Hispanics and critical transplant stakeholders could benefit immensely and these disparities can be narrowed.