European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN KASHMIR

Showkat Ahmad Bhat*, Dr. Richa Thakur, Pervinder Kaur, Dr. Pankaj Kaul and Aasif Ahmad Lone

ABSTRACT

Aim: The kidneys regulate fluid balance, electrolytes, and waste elimination. Hypertension is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), damaging kidney function over time. This study aims to assess the prevalence of CKD in hypertensive patients and identify contributing factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Government Medical College Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, India, with 100 hypertensive patients aged 45-65. Patients with a history of renal surgery or severe illness were excluded. Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer, while serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were analysed with an automated system. Urine tests, proteinuria assessments, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimates (using the CKD-EPI equation) were performed. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, with chi-square tests applied for categorical variables. Ethical approval and informed consent were secured. Results: Among the 100 patients, 53% were male and 47% female, with 63% from rural areas. CKD prevalence was higher in rural participants and increased with age. Significant associations with CKD included age (P=0.029), economic status (P=0.04), and body mass index (BMI) (P=0.01). Lifestyle factors such as smoking (P=0.001) and physical inactivity (P=0.006) were also influential. Clinically, the duration of hypertension (P=0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.002) were strongly correlated with CKD. Conclusion: CKD is common among hypertensive patients, especially those aged 60 and above. Key contributing factors include obesity, middle-class status, smoking, lack of exercise, prolonged hypertension, and elevated diastolic blood pressure, with beta blocker use also linked. Factors like gender, residence, education, occupation, family history, alcohol use, and comorbidities were not significant. Routine kidney function screening in hypertensive patients is essential for early detection and prevention.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), Hypertension, Renal function tests, Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), Serum creatinine, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN).