Why are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders more at risk? 

Although we are not exactly sure why Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are more at risk, diabetes, high blood pressure, and access to health care play a big part.

1.  Diabetes is the #1 cause of kidney failure.  It causes almost half of all cases in the United States.  Overall, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders get diabetes less often than many other groups.  However, diabetes is a serious problem for some groups in certain parts of the country: 

• In Hawaii and California, Asians, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders get diabetes more often than Whites. 
• Diabetes affects some Pacific Islanders differently.
  • In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians die from diabetes almost six times as often as Whites.  Filipinos living in Hawaii die from diabetes more than three times as often as Whites. 
  • Diabetes causes eye disease and other problems in Native Hawaiians more often than whites.

2.  High Blood Pressure is the #2 cause of kidney failure.  It causes about 1 out of 4 cases in the United States.  High blood pressure is a serious problem for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders:

• Almost 1 in 5 (over 19%) Asian American and Pacific Islander adults have high blood pressure.

3.  Almost 1 in 6 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are uninsured.  If diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease are caught early, they can usually be managed.  However, almost 1 in 6 (17%) of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are not insured.  As a result, their health care choices may be limited.