Population estimates of Glomerular Filtration Rate and Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease in Guatemala

ABSTRACT Introduction CKD is an emerging public health priority in Central America. However, data on the prevalence of CKD in Guatemala—Central America’s most populous country—is limited, especially for rural communities. Methods We conducted a population-representative survey of two rural agricultural municipalities in Guatemala. We collected anthropometric data, blood pressure, serum and urine creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin, and urine albumin. Sociodemographic, health, and exposure data were self-reported. Results We enrolled 807 individuals (63% of all eligible, 35% male, mean age 39.5 years). An estimated 4.0% (95% CI 2.4, 6.6) had CKD, defined as an eGFR below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Most individuals with an eGFR below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 had diabetes or hypertension. In multivariable analysis, the important factors associated with risk for an eGFR below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 included a history of diabetes or hypertension (aOR 11.21, 95% CI 3.28-38.24), underweight (BMI Conclusions In this population-based survey most observed CKD was associated with diabetes and hypertension. These Results emphasize the urgent public health need to address the emerging epidemic of diabetes, hypertension, and CKD in rural Guatemala. In addition, the association between CKD and sugar cane in individuals living in poverty provides some circumstantial evidence for existence of CKD of unknown etiology in the study communities, which requires further investigation.