Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): An Observational Study of Etiology, Severity and Burden of Comorbidities

Objectives: To study the etiology and burden of comorbidities across stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Children, 2-16 y of age with CKD Stages II- IV were recruited over 12 mo. The etiology, clinical presentation and severity of complications were studied.

Results: Among 78 children [Stage II (n = 21), Stage III (n = 26), Stage IV (n = 31)], congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) was the commonest etiology and 28 were newly diagnosed in Stage III /IV. High prevalence of comorbidities was observed with growth retardation (65%), hypertension (59%), hyperphosphatemia (32%), vitamin D deficiency (92%), dyslipidemia (64%), left ventricular hypertrophy (45%) and hyperparathyroidism (56%). While most comorbidities correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate and severity of CKD, hypertension, vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular morbidity were prevalent even in early stages.

Conclusions: CAKUT was the commonest cause of CKD. Late detection and high prevalence of comorbidities even in early stages of CKD were observed.