Screening the silent epidemic: Community-based detection of chronic kidney disease in Vietnam’s elderly

Background: Community-based data on chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and risk factors among older adults in Vietnam are scarce, with prior studies largely limited to hospital cohorts. Objectives: We aimed to estimate CKD prevalence (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m3) and to identify associated demographic and metabolic risk factors in Vietnamese adults aged a60 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed CKD prevalence and risk factors in 2247 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from January to June 2024. eGFR was calculated using the CKD-EPI 2009 equation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations with age, sex, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results: Mean eGFR was 70.8 mL/min/1.73 m² (standard deviation 14.6), with CKD prevalent in 22.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.6–24.1) of participants. Women had a higher prevalence CKD than men (26.7% vs. 14.2%). Age ≥80 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.38, 95% CI 5.37-10.15), female sex (aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.68–2.73), and T2DM (aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.40–2.31) were independently associated with CKD ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: CKD affects more than 20% of older Vietnamese adults, with higher risks observed in women, individuals aged 80 years, and those with T2DM. These findings underscore the need for targeted community-based screening and prevention strategies to address Vietnam’s growing CKD burden.