Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in an urban Mexican population

Background. The present study was primarily designed to assess the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a Mexican urban population residing in Mexico and to evaluate certain biologic and socioeconomic conditions as risk factors for the development of renal disease. Methods. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted, which included 3564 patients of either gender aged > 18 years, who were randomly selected from lists of patients assigned to primary care facilities in the city of Morelia. A questionnaire about personal current health status, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease in close relatives, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and blood and urine samples to measure glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine was obtained for each patient. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) was calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula. Patients were classified in 1 of the 5 Ccr categories established by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. Results. The prevalence rate of Ccr < 15 mL/min was 1142 per million population, and that of Ccr < 60mL/min 80,788 per million population. Alcohol and tobacco consumption, female gender, age > 65 years, educational level < primary school, and income < US $4.00/day were significantly associated with reduced Ccr. Conclusion. Chronic kidney disease prevalence in this population is similar to that seen in industrialized countries. If these figures are similar to those of the entire Mexican population, only 1 out of 4 patients requiring renal replacement therapy in the country currently has access to it.