BACKGROUND: There were increased numbers of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients identified in and around Alagapuri Mukkulam field area, Virudhunagar District, TamilNadu. This study is to identify the prevalence of CKD and CKDu (CKD of unknown etiology) and its association with different risk factors in this area.
Objective : To estimate the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) among population 18 years and above.
1. To estimate the prevalence of possible cases of CKDu (CKD of unknown etiology) among the study population.
2. To determine the factors associated with CKD among our study population.
METHODS : Observational/cross sectional study. Using Cluster Random sampling 339 subjects (>18 years) were selected. History, Demographic, Anthropometric data, Urine blood/protein, Serum Creatinine, blood glucose were measured. eGFR was measured using CKD-EPI formula. Subjects with suspected CKD were reviewed after 3 months to confirm the diagnosis.
RESULTS : The mean eGFR in this study was 98.5 ml/min/1.73 m2. 18% (61) had decreased eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2) alone. The prevalence of subjects with decreased eGFR and urine proteinuria/hematuria was 20.3% (69) with mean eGFR of 40.1 ml/min/1.73 m2. Risk factors like hypertension and outdoor occupation (dehydration) only showed significant association. The CKDu prevalence was 10.9% (37) which was 53.7% of total CKD. These show there are other unknown risk factors yet to be identified.
CONCLUSIONS : The prevalence of CKD and CKDu in A.Mukkulam rural area is higher than other CKD prevalence studies. Thus there is a compelling need to create CKD database, to identify CKD ‘hotspots’ by active screening and do analytical/experimental studies to identify unknown risk factors of CKD. This will pave way for devising strategies for its primordial and primary prevention.