Population Estimates of GFR and Risk Factors for CKD in Guatemala
Ann C. Miller, Eva Tuiz, Leah C. Shaw, David Flood, Pablo García, Eloin Dhaenens, Dana R. Thomson, Joaquín Barnoya, Carlos Mendoza Montano, Peter Rohloff
Abstract
IntroductionChronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging public health priority in Central America. However, data on the prevalence of CKD in Guatemala, Central America’s most populous country, are limited, especially for rural communities.MethodsWe conducted a population-representative survey of 2 rural agricultural municipalities in Guatemala. We collected anthropometric data, blood pressure, serum and urine creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin, and urine albumin. Sociodemographic, health, and exposure data were self-reported.ResultsWe enrolled 807 individuals (63% of all eligible, 35% male, mean age 39.5 years). An estimated 4.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4–6.6) had CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Most individuals with an eGFR below 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 had diabetes or hypertension. In multivariable analysis, the important factors associated with risk for an eGFR less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 included a history of diabetes or hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 11.21; 95% CI 3.28–38.24), underweight (body mass index [BMI] <18.5) (aOR 21.09; 95% CI 2.05–217.0), and an interaction between sugar cane agriculture and poverty (aOR 1.10; 95% CI 1.01–1.19).ConclusionsIn this population-based survey, most observed CKD was associated with diabetes and hypertension. These results emphasize the urgent public health need to address the emerging epidemic of diabetes, hypertension, and CKD in rural Guatemala. In addition, the association between CKD and sugar cane in individuals living in poverty provides some circumstantial evidence for existence of CKD of unknown etiology in the study communities, which requires further investigation.