Prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in a populated area with highly moving populations

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. Prevalence and associated risk factors of CKD was evaluated in the greater Mashhad, a highly populated pilgrimage city, in 2018 on 2,976 subjects. MethodsThis study was carried out in the greater Mashhad, a highly populated pilgrimage city, in 2018 on 2,976 subjects. For each participant a standard questionnaire, a physical examination and clinical history were completed. Then biochemical and hematologic tests for kidney function were performed. ResultsObesity was observed more frequently in subjects with CKD, thus BMI was positively correlated with the prevalence of CKD (p<0.001). Moderately reduced GFR was found in 17.6% and 7.1%, and severely reduce GFR at 0.7% and 0.5%, of males and females, respectively (p<0.001).Drug abuse also showed a strong association with CKD (p=0.004), but smoking did not. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression of decreased estimated GFR<60 showed that age (OR=1.06), gender (OR=2.14), diabetes (OR=1.07), hypertension (OR=1.39) and drug usage (OR=3.29) were risk factors for CKD; BMI was not. The same statistics showed that only age (OR=1.02), diabetes (OR=2.61) and hypertension (OR=1.16) were risk factors for albuminuria. The prevalence of hypertension (22.1%) was a risk factor for CKD, and vice versa. BMI and drug abuse were also risk factors for hypertension, but not smoking. ConclusionThese findings demonstrated that progression of CKD and hypertension in any population should be considered in the context of changes in human behaviours, etiology, disease severity, co-occurring diseases, addiction and priority of therapy over prevention.