Hispanic/Latinx adults with IgAN show rapid eGFR decline and high kidney event rates in retrospective cohortStudy describes kidney disease progression in Hispanic adults with IgA nephropathy

Frontiers in Medicine Published April 7, 2026 DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

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Key Takeaway

Note rapid eGFR decline in Hispanic/Latinx IgAN patients in observational data.

This retrospective case series examined 259 Hispanic/Latinx adults with biopsy-proven immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) within the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system. The study followed patients from biopsy until a ≥50% decline in eGFR, kidney failure, mortality, study end, or disenrollment. No specific intervention or comparator was reported; treatment data showed 41% received immunosuppressive agents, 48% ACE inhibitors, and 20% ARBs.

At diagnosis, median eGFR was 56 ml/min/1.73 m² and median urine protein/creatinine ratio was 1.8 g/g. The main finding was a mean annual eGFR decline of -4.5 ml/min/1.73 m², with 30.9% of patients experiencing a rapid decline (>5 ml/min/1.73 m² per year). The incidence of the composite kidney outcome (≥50% eGFR decline, kidney failure, or mortality) was 73.3 events per 1,000 patient-years. The median time to this composite outcome was 2.8 years, and the median age at the outcome was 46 years.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported. Key limitations include the retrospective, observational design, which cannot establish causality, and the lack of a comparator group to contextualize the progression rates. The study population was from a single U.S. health system, which may limit generalizability to other Hispanic/Latinx communities or healthcare settings.

For practice, these data suggest that Hispanic/Latinx adults with IgAN in this cohort experienced aggressive kidney function decline and a high rate of kidney events. The findings underscore the need for vigilant monitoring in this population but are descriptive and do not inform specific treatment strategies. Further prospective, comparative studies are needed to confirm these progression patterns and identify modifiable risk factors.

Researchers looked back at the medical records of 259 Hispanic/Latinx adults with a confirmed diagnosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a type of kidney disease. The patients were part of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system. The study aimed to describe how their kidney function changed over time.

At diagnosis, the median kidney function (eGFR) was 56 ml/min, and the median level of protein in urine was 1.8 g/g. Over a follow-up period, the average annual decline in kidney function was -4.5 ml/min. About 31% of patients experienced a rapid decline, defined as losing more than 5 ml/min of function per year. The study also reported that the median time to a major kidney problem, like a 50% drop in function or kidney failure, was 2.8 years.

This was a retrospective study, meaning it analyzed past data. It describes what happened in this specific group but cannot explain why it happened or prove what caused the decline. It did not compare these patients to people of other ethnicities or backgrounds, so we don't know if these rates are higher or lower. The results provide a snapshot of disease progression in this community, which can help inform future research and clinical awareness.

What this means for you:

This descriptive study outlines how IgA nephropathy progressed in one group of Hispanic patients but cannot determine causes or risks.

Study Details

Study typeCohort

EvidenceLevel 3

PublishedMar 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

BackgroundImmunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. While racial and ethnic differences in disease progression are well documented, the Hispanic/Latinx populations remain understudied despite their elevated risk of kidney failure among other CKD populations.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the kidney function decline and progression in Hispanic/Latinx patients with biopsy-proven IgAN within a large, integrated healthcare system and to contextualize to other racial/ethnic groups.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case series study of 259 Hispanic/Latinx adults with biopsy-proven IgAN from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health system. Patients were followed from biopsy to ≥50% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), kidney failure, mortality, the study end date of November 30, 2022, or disenrollment. Annualized eGFR decline and the incidence of composite kidney outcomes were assessed.ResultsAt diagnosis, Hispanic/Latinx patients had significant CKD and a high risk of progression to kidney failure, indicated by a median eGFR of 56 ml min−1 1.73 m−2 and a median urine protein/creatinine ratio of 1.8 g/g. Common treatments included immunosuppressive agents (41%), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (48%), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; 20%). The mean annual eGFR decline was −4.5 ml min−1 1.73 m−2, and 30.9% experienced rapid decline (>5 ml min−1 1.73 m−2 per year). The composite kidney outcome occurred at 73.3 events per 1,000 patient-years, with a median time to event of 2.8 years and a median age at event of 46 years.ConclusionHispanic/Latinx patients with IgAN demonstrate rapid kidney function decline and early-onset kidney failure. These findings underscore the need for earlier detection and targeted management in this underserved group.

Hispanic/Latinx adults with IgAN show rapid eGFR decline and high kidney event rates in retrospective cohortStudy describes kidney disease progression in Hispanic adults with IgA nephropathy

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Hispanic/Latinx adults with IgAN show rapid eGFR decline and high kidney event rates in retrospective cohortStudy describes kidney disease progression in Hispanic adults with IgA nephropathy

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