Incident 79: Kidney Testing Method Allegedly Underestimated Risk of Black Patients
Entities
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Taxonomy DetailsFull Description
A 2020 study conducted in the Mass General Brigham health system demonstrated that a popular algorithm for estimating kidney function underestimated the risk to African-American patients. This bias could lead to inequitable outcomes, such as not being placed on a kidney transplant waiting list. The equation, known as the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (CKD-EPI eGFR) equation, includes a race multiplier for African-Americans. When researchers removed the race multiplier, 33.4% of African-American patients in their study were reclassified into more severe risk categories.
Short Description
A 2020 study conducted in the Mass General Brigham health system demonstrated that a popular algorithm for estimating kidney function included a race multiplier, which underestimated the risk to African-American patients.
Severity
Unclear/unknown
Harm Distribution Basis
Race
Harm Type
Harm to physical health/safety
AI System Description
An equation created by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration to calculate Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
System Developer
Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration
Sector of Deployment
Human health and social work activities
Relevant AI functions
Cognition
AI Techniques
machine learning
AI Applications
statistical projection
Location
Boston, MA
Named Entities
Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration, Mass General Brigham health system, Mass General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Technology Purveyor
Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration
Beginning Date
6/2019
Ending Date
6/2019
Near Miss
Unclear/unknown
Intent
Unclear
Lives Lost
No
Infrastructure Sectors
Healthcare and public health
Data Inputs
creatinine levels, age, sex, race
Incident Reports
Reports Timeline
For years, physicians and medical students, many of them Black, have warned that the most widely used kidney test — the results of which are based on race — is racist and dangerously inaccurate. Their appeals are gaining new traction, with …
BACKGROUND: Advancing health equity entails reducing disparities in care. African-American patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have poorer outcomes, including dialysis access placement and transplantation. Estimated glomerular filtra…
BLACK PEOPLE IN the US suffer more from chronic diseases and receive inferior health care relative to white people. Racially skewed math can make the problem worse.
Doctors often make life-changing decisions about patient care based on algo…
