Figure 1.

Disparities in access to adequate and equitable care can hinder patients with severe kidney disease from progressing toward the optimal treatment, organ transplantation. Depending on social, biological, and individual factors, patients with imminent kidney failure may be evaluated for a transplant, and even receive a transplant, pre-emptively, whereas other patients may endure years of dialysis before even being properly educated and referred. Several steps are highlighted for which studies have found either equitable (green arrows) or disparate (red arrows) access by patient sex and/or gender. Comprehensive, national data are needed to fully inform policymakers and health providers about opportunities to address ongoing disparities in access to optimal kidney care.