Prevalence, Characteristics, and Associated Factors of Suspected Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Supebeda Village of Chhattisgarh

Background Supebeda, a small village in Chhattisgarh, has reported an alarmingly high number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases. The prevalence, epidemiology, and associated factors of suspected CKD in this village have not been studied methodologically. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in Supebeda during a health camp organized from 1st May to 5th May 2023. A door-to-door health survey was organized. 163 (20%) participants selected by simple random sampling out of 813 villagers were screened for suspected CKD by measuring serum creatinine and urine protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were recorded. Further, ten community drinking water samples were analyzed for select potentially toxic chemical species. Results The prevalence of suspected CKD, defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, was 30.1% (n = 49), while 52.7% (n = 86) had an elevated UPCR (>0.15 g/g). Thirty-eight participants (23.3%) with eGFR <60 mL/min/ 1.73 m2 fulfilled the definition of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu). Age ( p = 0.004, OR 1.05, CI 1.01–1.08) and gudakhu use ( p = 0.012, OR 3.73, CI 1.33-10.40) were predictors of suspected CKDu. Out of ten drinking water samples, lithium and chromium were above the permissible limits in nine, while levels of fluoride and arsenic were above the maximum permissible limit in four and two samples, respectively. Conclusion The study highlights a high prevalence of reduced GFR in the villagers, most of whom were not associated with traditional risk factors. However, these data represent a single-time assessment, and chronicity was not confirmed. So, the results only reflect abnormal kidney function compatible with CKD and CKDu.