Associations between Change in Kidney Functioning, Age, Race/ethnicity and Health Indicators in the Health and Retirement Study.

Age was a significant predictor of decline in kidney functioning, and its association was not fully explained by health conditions/behaviors, or genetics. Better management of diabetes, heart conditions, and obesity is effective in slowing this decline. Baseline differences in kidney functioning (e.g., between non-Hispanic White and Black persons; those with and without hypertension) suggest disparities occur early in the life course and require early interventions.