Interim study reveals high prevalence of kidney disease in Uddanam

Kavali mandal recorded the highest proportion of kidney disease

Metro India News | SRIKAKULAM

Key findings have emerged from an ongoing study into kidney diseases in the Uddanam region in Srikakulam district.  So far, researchers have completed surveys and collected blood and urine samples from 3,897 people in four mandals.

Of those screened, 949 people, or 24.35 per cent, were found to have kidney disease. Senior nephrologist Professor Tatapudi Raviraj is serving as the mentor of the study team, while Dr G. Prasad, Professor in the Department of Nephrology at Andhra Medical College Visakhapatnam, is the principal investigator.

The interim analysis showed that 550 people had Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), while 399 were diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu). Kavali mandal recorded the highest proportion of kidney disease cases as well as the largest number of CKD and CKDu cases among the four mandals surveyed.

The expert team has submitted the interim report to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and also to the Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Minister Satyakumar. The study team informed the minister that screening would soon be taken up in the remaining three mandals.

The researchers plan to include 5,851 people in the overall study and will collect samples from the remaining participants shortly The study found that levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid in the blood increased progressively as the severity of kidney disease increased. Researchers said the trend indicates a decline in the kidneys' filtering capacity. In some participants, abnormal levels of albumin were detected even though their overall kidney function remained within the normal range.

The interim analysis across the four mandals found the highest number of kidney disease cases in both the CKD and CKDu categories in Kaviti mandal. The samples are being tested not only for routine indicators of kidney function but also for changes that may appear during the early stages of kidney disease.

Researchers are examining whether certain biomarkers in urine could help identify people who may be at increased risk of developing kidney disease in the future, potentially enabling earlier intervention. The study will also examine RNA sequencing and genetic factors associated with the disease.

Environmental factors under study

Researchers are also examining soil and water samples, along with blood and urine samples, for pesticide residues, heavy metals and other potentially relevant substances. Of those who participated, 55.3 per cent were above 48 years of age, while approximately one-third were associated with the agricultural sector. Tobacco use was reported among 38.8 per cent of participants, while 23.7 per cent reported alcohol consumption.

Researchers are collecting information on pesticide and fertiliser use, sources of drinking water, agricultural activities, exposure to heat, lifestyle factors, diabetes, hypertension and medication use, among other variables.

Final conclusions will be drawn only after the remaining areas have been surveyed and the results are combined with environmental and biomarker analyses. Minister Satyakumar expressed hope that the final findings would help identify the underlying causes of kidney disease in the Uddanam region.