Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) not associated with known risk factors, called CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu), has been reported from several geographically distinct regions across the world. This study reports the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with CKDu from a new hotspot in central India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study describes the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory profile of the patients diagnosed with CKDu visiting a tertiary care public hospital in the state of Chhattisgarh in central India between June 2019 and June 2021. CKDu was diagnosed as progressive CKD, minimal proteinuria, absence of hematuria, diabetes, severe hypertension, systemic illness, glomerulonephritis or other urinary tract diseases, and presence of symmetrically contracted kidneyon ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 166 (3.1%) out of 5365 patients with CKD were diagnosed with CKDu. The mean age was 53.6 ± 11.8 years. The patients were predominantly male (n = 113, 68.1%), belonged to rural areas (n = 147, 88.6%), and were engaged in farming (n = 105, 63.3%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at presentation was 21.5 ± 15.1 ml/min/1.73m(2). Forty-four (26.5%) had stage 3 CKD, 57 (34.3%) had stage 4 CKD, and 65 (39.2%) had stage5 CKD. There was an over-representation of CKDu cases in patients with CKD from Gariyaband (36.0%) and Mahasamund (25%) districts of Chhattisgarh and Nuapada (35.0%) and Balangir (30.0%) districts of Odisha. CONCLUSION: The study suggests clustering of cases of CKDu in certain districts of Orissa and Chhattisgarh.