Impaired Kidney Function: Prevalence and Associated Factors in Risk Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) does not have any clinical symptoms in the early stages and, therefore, most people only attend healthcare units when they are already in the terminal phase of the disease, which is still common in Brazil. Objective: To identify the prevalence of altered estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and associated factors in users of the unified health system suffering from diabetes mellitus and/or systemic hypertension at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the medical records of 331 users attending the State Specialty Care Center located in the west-central region of Minas Gerais, Brazil between September 2017 and June 2019. A descriptive univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results: A total of 118 (35.6%) of the participants had altered eGFR. A significant association between altered eGFR and age was identified: older people ≥ 60 years old were 5.53 times more likely to have altered eGFR. Participants using polypharmacy were 2.64 times more likely to have altered eGFR. Discussion: In line with similar studies, a lack of follow-up on the initiation and development of CKD in the early stages was identified, implying a late approach and limited actions to preserve kidney function. Conclusions: A high prevalence of altered eGFR was identified (35.6%) with no records in the tables that could lead to a preventive approach to impaired kidney function. Advanced age and polypharmacy were identified as independent variables in the alteration of kidney function.