Effects of Family History of Chronic Kidney Disease and unhealthy habits on the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain aetiology

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain aetiology (CKD-u) is an emerging disease among farmers in rural Sri Lanka. Studies on risk factors associated with CKD-u in Sri Lanka are rare. The objective of the study was to identify the effects of family history of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and unhealthy habits of CKD-u patients in Sri Lanka against pertinent controls. Risk factors associated with CKD-u were investigated using four control groups. They were endemic CKD (ECKD), endemic control (EC), non-endemic CKD (NECKD), non-endemic control (NEC). Information was gathered using a questionnaire. Chi square test of independency was carried out to detect risk factors among the study groups. The percentage of smokers among the male population of CKD-u, ECKD, EC, NECKD and NEC were 54%, 50%, 45%, 43% and 33% respectively. The percentages for alcohol consumers among the male population of CKD-u, ECKD, EC, NECKD and NEC were 55 %, 42 %, 58 %, 45 % and 67 % respectively. The percentages of betel chewers (male and female) among CKD-u, ECKD, EC, NECKD and NEC were 86 %, 61 %, 63 %, 22 % and 51 % respectively. According to chi squared test, there was no significant difference in smoking and alcohol consumption among CKD-u patients and other control groups (p = 0.201 and 0.127 respectively). A significant difference (p < 0.001) in chewing betel was observed between CKD-u and control groups. The odds of having CKD-u were about three times higher than CKD in the endemic areas if they had a family history of the disease. The odds of having CKD-u were about seven times higher than CKD in non-endemic areas if they had a family history of the disease. In conclusion, chewing betel was significantly higher among CKD-u patients when compared to the endemic and non-endemic CKD patients and healthy control groups, while smoking and alcohol consumption were not significant. The CKD-u group had the highest percentage for family history of CKD than other groups.