Epidemiology of Biopsy-Confirmed Kidney Disease: A Single-Practice Study in South Texas

Background: Prevalence of biopsy-proven kidney disease in the United States (US) is fairly limited, especially in Hispanic populations who experience a large burden of kidney disease. This study is aimed to determine the patterns and epidemiological features of kidney disease in a predominantly hispanic population of South Texas. Methods: Using data from a single nephrology practice in Laredo, TX, we identified patients who underwent kidney biopsies from April 2014 to April 2024. Retrospective analysis was done to obtain demographics, histopathologic diagnosis, and clinical/laboratory data. Results were stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and comorbidities to identify epidemiologic patterns. Results: Of 260 patients, transplant biopsies and those with insufficient data were excluded, leaving 240 patients for analysis. The median age was 50 years, with 57% female patients. Racial/ethnic demographics included 97% Hispanic patients. Secondary Glomerular Diseases (SGD) were most common with prevalence of 50%, followed by Primary Glomerular Diseases (PGD) (38%) and Tubulointerstitial Diseases (TID) (12%). Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (n=94, 39%) and lupus nephritis (LN) (n=17, 7%) were the most common SGD, whereas IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (n=17, 7%), AA amyloidosis (n=13, 5), membranous nephropathy (MN) (n=11, 5%), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (n=11, 5%) were the most common PGD. The most common TID was acute tubular necrosis (ATN) (n=20, 8%). Of patients with FSGS, MCD, and LN ≥ 70% were female. Of patients with amyloidosis, FSGS, Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and LN > 85% were ≤ 50 years of age. Conclusion: Our study describes the prevalence of biopsy-proven kidney diseases in a Hispanic population. This provides a foundation to better understand patterns for kidney disease in a population underrepresented in literature, and contributes to the current lack of kidney biopsy data in the US.