Chronic Kidney Disease between obscure etiologies and serious complications among Lebanese patients

Abstract

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) are currently a major public health threat. Objectives: The objective of this paper is to define the leading causes of CKD and DN and their complications among Lebanese patients. Patients and Methods: In this study, 380 hemodialysis patients were included, regardless of their socioeconomic status or nationality. Results: In total, 89.5% of patients were over the age of 40. The main cause of CKD was hypertension (55.3%), followed by polycystic kidney disease and repeated urinary tract infections (34.2%). The nutritional analysis of patients' dietary history showed that 52.6%, 31.6%, and 47.4% of patients exceeded their Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein, caffeine, and sodium, respectively. In terms of the consequences of CKD, men were more prone to anemia and water retention than women. However, women were more affected by cardiovascular disease and malnutrition. Concerning age, anemia was more prevalent in younger patients than in older ones. Conclusions: The high prevalence of behavioral and pathological factors and the resulting consequences of CKD suggest a major awareness of the Lebanese population of the risks of chronic kidney disease and the necessity of the prevention of CKD by following a healthy lifestyle and managing any existing diseases.