PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) PATIENTS IN MIRPUR, AJK

Abstract

This paper explored chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk factors and their occurrence in patients of all ages who receive treatment in different Hospitals of District Mirpur, AJ&K. The major aims were to determine prevalence of CKD in these hospitals and find the risk factors contributing to kidney failure symptoms in order to manage them. The study adopted a cross-sectional design which was carried out in District Mirpur. All the patients, clinically diagnosed with CKD, Stage 1-5, were participants. The data collection was undertaken in three-parts, through Questionnaire i.e Demographics, duration and laboratory results of kidney disease, Risk factors of CKD. The analysis was done with the help of SPSS-21 (Statistical Package for Social Science). Both male and female estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated on the GFR calculator Davita kidney care program. The number of patients involved in the study was 385 and several risk factors which are significant in CKD were identified; hypertension was the most common risk factor and it occurred in 76.6 percent of the patients. Diabetes was also a key factor since 42.3 percent of the respondents had it. The percentage on those who have long-term use of NSAIDs was 30.1 of the study population. Herbal medications were used by 30.1%. Out of the total, 51.17% used tap water as their main source of drinking water. The other significant risk factors were: Bone disease (29.3%), Urinary tract infection (22.3%), Hepatitis C (21.5%), History of kidney stones (17.4%), Acute kidney injury (AKI) (10.6%), kidney disease during or after pregnancy (7.53%), Congenital anomalies of the kidney (7.53%). The researchers determined that the predominant risk factors of CKD were hypertension and diabetes. Also, unnatural and unmanaged cholesterol was discovered to be one of the biggest factors. The history of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, AKI, presence of kidney stones and urinary tract infections were also some of the significant risk factors setting the predisposition of CKD progression. CKD was also aided by long term usage of some drugs such as antibiotics, biguanides, thiazide diuretics, and nephrotoxic drugs like NSAIDs. Herbal medicines, the use of tap water, overuse of soft drinks and meat intake and junk food were also mentioned as risk factors in the study. In addition, the new risk factors such as pregnancy abnormalities and chronic bone disease were identified to cause CKD, as well as congenital anomalies of the kidney.