Vital Signs: Decrease in Incidence of Diabetes-Related End-Stage Renal Disease among American Indians/Alaska Natives — United States, 1996–2013

Early Release / January 10, 2017 / 66

Ann Bullock, MD1; Nilka Ríos Burrows, MPH2; Andrew S. Narva, MD3; Karen Sheff, MS1; Israel Hora, MS2; Akaki Lekiachvili, MD4; Hannah Cain5; David Espey, MD4 (View author affiliations)

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Key Points

• In the United States, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) are more likely to have diagnosed diabetes than any other racial or ethnic group. In response to the epidemic of diabetes in AI/AN, the Indian Health Service (IHS) developed a comprehensive diabetes program, which includes clinical care improvements as well as public health and population management approaches.

• End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a costly complication of diabetes. Incidence of ESRD related to diabetes (ESRD-D) among AI/AN decreased 54% during 1996–2013. By 2013, in adults with diabetes, ESRD-D incidence was the same in AI/AN as in whites.

• Since diabetes and its complications are public health problems, the response of IHS, a direct care agency organized around a public health model, might be useful to other health care systems.

• Additional information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns.