INTRODUCTION : Chronic kidney disease is the fifth leading cause of mortality in Tamil Nadu. As diabetes and hypertension rates increase, the burden of chronic kidney disease is expected to grow, impacting both health and the economy. In developing countries with limited dialysis and transplant facilities, early detection of chronic kidney disease can significantly reduce the risk of progression to end-stage renal disease and improve overall population health. The Government of Tamil Nadu has launched the ‘Urine dipstick testing Program’ for early detection of chronic kidney disease at all Primary Health Centers (PHC) and Health Sub-Centers (HSC) for the target patients.
OBJECTIVE : To understand the health profile of the beneficiaries under the Urine Dipstick testing program and their status of co-morbid conditions based on State data from July 2023 to May 2024. To understand the health profile of the beneficiaries under the Urine Dipstick testing program and their status of comorbid conditions based on State data from July 2023 to May 2024. METHODS : A descriptive study was done based on the secondary data analysis of the beneficiaries of the Urine Dipstick Testing (UDT) Programme data for the period from July 2023 to May 2024 across all districts of Tamil Nadu.
RESULTS : A total of 57,23,188 beneficiaries have been screened under this program, of which 13,082 tested positive in the Urine dipstick testing. Among these, 6312 (48.3%) were found to be hypertensive, 4272 (32.7% were diabetics) and 2498 (19%) had both hypertension and diabetes. On referral, 946 persons (7.2%) were confirmed to have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in various stages. CONCLUSION : The Urine Dipstick testing program provides a crucial opportunity for individuals from high-risk populations, particularly those with hypertension and diabetes, to undergo thorough screenings for the early detection of kidney diseases.