A house RESOLUTION

to encourage each individual in South Carolina to become better informed about and aware of kidney disease and APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease, to encourage people from or with ancestry from Western and Central Africa to consider genetic testing for APOL1 gene mutations, and to declare Tuesday, April 30, 2024, as "APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease Awareness Day" in the State of South Carolina.

Whereas, kidney disease affects an estimated thirty-seven million Americans, and more than five hundred fifty thousand are on dialysis. Black people with kidney disease are more likely to develop kidney failure than any other racial or ethnic group; and

Whereas, the health disparities in kidney failure are unsustainable, with Black people making up thirteen percent of the United States population but accounting for thirty-five percent of those with kidney failure. Kidney failure places enormous physical, emotional, and financial burdens on individuals and costs the Medicare program over fifty billion dollars annually; and

Whereas, there are genetic factors that can increase an individual's risk for kidney disease. One such genetic factor is having variants, that is mutations, in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene. People are more likely to have APOL1 gene variants if they are from Western or Central Africa or have an ancestor who came from these regions; and

Whereas, these variants can increase susceptibility for APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD), a rapidly progressive form of kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure; and

Whereas, it is estimated that if a patient has variants in both copies of the APOL1 gene, there is a one in five chance they will go on to develop kidney disease, and an estimated thirteen percent of Black Americans have variants in both copies of the APOL1 gene; and

Whereas, a person with AMKD may not have any symptoms of kidney disease until their kidneys are close to failing, but genetic testing can reveal the risk individuals may have for AMKD, empowering them to take the steps necessary to protect their kidney health before it is too late; and

Whereas, individuals who are found to have APOL1 genetic variants can reduce their risk for kidney failure by meeting with their doctor regularly, eating a healthy diet, taking all medications as prescribed, exercising for at least thirty minutes a day, and not smoking or using tobacco; and

Whereas, additional awareness and research of APOL1 genetic mutations are needed to improve understanding of the kidney disease disparities in the population; and

Whereas, there are currently no FDA approved treatments available for APOL1 mediated kidney disease, but clinical trials could provide an opportunity for researchers to develop and test safe treatments for APOL1-mediated kidney disease. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, encourage each individual in South Carolina to become better informed about and aware of kidney disease and APOL1-mediated kidney disease, encourage people from or with ancestry from Western and Central Africa to consider genetic testing for APOL1 gene mutations, and declare Tuesday, April 30, 2024, as "APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day" in the State of South Carolina.

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