CKD Prevalence Soars in India: Study Calls for Early Detection and Regional Focus

CKD now impacts 13.24% of adults in India, with its prevalence increasing from 11.12% between 2011 and 2017 to 16.38% between 2018 and 2023 among individuals aged 15 years and above. The meta-analysis, published in Nephrology Journal, reveals that CKD is more prevalent in rural areas (15.34%) compared to urban regions (10.65%), and in men (14.80%) compared to women (13.51%). The highest prevalence was found in Southern India, where it reached 14.78%.

CKD, which refers to the gradual loss of kidney function over time, is often linked to risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and lifestyle choices. Its prevalence varies significantly across different regions of India. Rounik Talukdar, ICMR-Cochrane Affiliate Centre, Division of Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research Headquarters, New Delhi, India, and colleagues aimed to assess the status of CKD in India by systematically reviewing published community-based studies conducted between January 2011 and December 2023.

For this purpose, the researchers searched PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE for peer-reviewed evidence. Records selected for full-text screening were imported into the Litmaps literature review tool to identify additional relevant studies. Two researchers independently examined and extracted the data, while the quality assessment was carried out using the JBI tool for prevalence studies.

A random effects model was used to pool the estimates, and subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity and evaluate robustness. Out of the 7,062 records identified, 18 studies were included in the review.

The following were the key findings of the review:

• The pooled prevalence of CKD from community-based studies in India was 13.24%.
• CKD prevalence was 14.80% among men and 13.51% among women.
• The Southern administrative zone had a pooled CKD prevalence of 14.78%.
• CKD prevalence was higher in rural areas (15.34%) compared to urban areas (10.65%).
• There was a significant heterogeneity across studies.
• Subgroup analyses based on sampling strategy, quality score, publication year, and eGFR estimation equation did not impact the pooled prevalence.
• Prediction intervals suggested that CKD prevalence in future studies will range between 2.64% and 30.17%.

The review revealed a rising trend in CKD prevalence over the past decade among Indians aged 15 years and above.

"The lack of comprehensive studies representing local or regional populations has hindered accurate CKD prevalence estimates across various administrative zones, except the southern zone. This highlights the need for further research and more community-based screening programs focused on CKD for early detection and intervention," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Talukdar, R., Ajayan, R., Gupta, S., Biswas, S., Parveen, M., Sadhukhan, D., Sinha, A. P., & Parameswaran, S. (2024). Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis From Community-Based Representative Evidence Between 2011 to 2023. Nephrology, 30(1), e14420. https://doi.org/10.1111/nep.14420