Prevalence and Factors Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease among Patients Admitted to Medical Ward in a Tertiary Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, a Cross Sectional Study

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease is being recognized as a global public health problem. It is a major non-communicable disease with the global prevalence varying between 10.5% and 13.1%. Diabetes and hypertension appear to be the leading causes of chronic kidney disease worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and its associated factors of chronic kidney disease among patients admitted to medical ward in a tertiary hospital, Northern Ethiopia.Methodology: An institution based cross-sectional study was undertaken using systematic random sampling technique to select study participants from October 20, 2017 to March 20, 2018 G.C. Data from 450 patients was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire designed to meet the study objective. After describing variables, logistic regression was conducted to identify independent associated factors of chronic kidney disease. Statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05.Result: Of the 450 patients, 260 (57.8%) were males and more than half (54.2%) were between ages of 25 to 40 years. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease among patients admitted to medical ward was 17.3% (95% CI 13 - 29.9) and 14.4% (95 % CI 6.2 - 12.3) by Cockcroft Gault and MDRD equations, respectively and majority (61.5%) of them were stage 5. Hypertension (AOR = 7.8 95% CI 4.1, 14.9), history of recurrent urinary tract infection (AOR = 3.5 95% CI 1.1, 7.3) and history of using nephrotoxic drugs (AOR = 3.4 95% CI 2, 9.3) were significantly associated with chronic kidney disease. Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease among adult patients admitted to medical ward in tertiary hospital, Northern Ethiopia was high and majority of patients were stage 5. Hypertension, use of nephrotoxic agents and recurrent urinary tract infections were significantly associated. Knowing these risk factors will be very important for early detection of kidney disease and slowing progression. Since once end stage renal disease established, treatments are expensive, lifelong, resource intensive and scarce, especially in our country.