Proteinuria as a Marker of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Single Centre Single Day Screening Experience for 9 Years in Varanasi

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is an asymptomatic devastating medical illness which often results in delayed recognition with direct social and economic consequences for the patients, their families and the country. Proteinuria is one of the most prognostically significant biomarkers of kidney disease outcomes and even cardiovascular disease and death. The present study is a hospital camp-based screening of general population for the detection of proteinuria for 9 years (2008-11 and 2014-18). Methods: The study constituted a total of 1081 healthy adults of Varanasi. Information was recorded on sociodemographic and clinical profile of subjects. Prevalence of proteinuria was found. Further, significant predictors of proteinuria were estimated using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: There was almost equal proportion (50% each) of both the sexes in the study cohort with median age of 40 years. Proteinuria was present in 29.2% subjects. Male gender, smoking status, diabetes and abnormal creatinine levels came out as significant predictors of proteinuria. Discussion: Evidences have recommended proteinuria as a surrogate for kidney disease progression. Using the advantage of World Kidney Day, we collated screening data of 9 years and found high prevalence of proteinuria and its significant interlinked predictors like diabetes, hypertension, smoking which are all prelude to CKD and several other chronic outcomes. Such potentially modifiable risk factors are easily detectable in screening programs and can be mitigated, which is a pre requisite to prevent future health adversities.