title: Risk factors associated with disease progression and mortality in chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology: a cohort study in Medawachchiya, Sri Lanka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The alarming rise in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) among the low socioeconomic farming community in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka has been recognized as an emerging public health issue in the country.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study sought to determine the possible factors associated with the progression and mortality of CKDu. The study utilized a single-center cohort registered in 2003 and followed up until 2009 in a regional clinic in the endemic region, and used a Cox proportional hazards model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We repeatedly found an association between disease progression and hypertension. Men were at higher risk of CKDu than women. A significant proportion of the patients in this cohort were underweight, which emphasized the need for future studies on the nutritional status of these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with findings in western countries and other regions of Asia, we identified hypertension as a major risk factor for progression of CKDu in this cohort.
authors: Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. lalantha.s@kt3.ecs.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors: Lalantha
authors: L
authors: Senevirathna
authors: Tilak
authors: T
authors: Abeysekera
authors: Shanika
authors: S
authors: Nanayakkara
authors: Rohana
authors: R
authors: Chandrajith
authors: Neelakanthi
authors: N
authors: Ratnatunga
authors: Kouji H
authors: KH
authors: Harada
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Hitomi
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Komiya
authors: Eri
authors: E
authors: Muso
authors: Akio
authors: A
authors: Koizumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications