Kidney Diseases:
Data-Driven Innovation to Bridge Gaps to Care and Improve Equitable Access
Kidney diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the
United States with approximately 37 million, or 1 in 7 Americans having chronic
kidney disease (CKD). However,
about 40% of people with reduced
renal functionality are unaware of it. Underlying factors play a role, such as
diabetes and high blood pressure, and there are also inherited and
environmental drivers. As well, public health emergencies such as the COVID-19
pandemic, health, and social inequities (including racial inequities) have
highlighted the broader impact on kidney diseases. For instance, BIPOC
communities are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses
such as kidney disease. African Americans are almost four times as likely as
Whites to develop kidney failure and other minority populations at high risk for kidney diseases.
Another component that can play a role in racial health disparities are testing
metrics. Tests such as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) rate are
used to determine kidney functionality and filtration. However, this form of testing
may be flawed in its detection.
How
can we transform open data into actionable insights and digital tools to bridge
disparities of health and improve health equity for kidney care, including the
prevention and treatment of kidney damage from COVID-19 or Long COVID?
Potential ideas for exploration
Through this challenge, participants can use the opportunity to transform datasets into novel insights, decision support, digital tools, data visualizations, or other innovations to identify and bridge access to critical kidney care in the United States.
- Testing and Literacy: Improving testing metrics, innovating solutions for kidney disease detection methods through testing and education
- Social Determinants of Health: Incorporate solutions for prevention and awareness for social determinants
- Testing Resources: generate access to testing for underlying genetic conditions and hereditary kidney diseases that may increases risk for complications such as end stage renal disease (ESRD).
- Access to Care and Awareness Bridging gaps in accessibility for healthcare resources (e.g. kidney transplants), generating support and awareness for vulnerable populations that are greatly impacted by kidney disease, including those affected by COVID-19 and Long COVID
Curated datasets and resources
Government links and information to help get started
- USRDS United States Renal Data System – Information and Data sources
