title: Clinical and demographic characteristics of chronic kidney disease patients in a tertiary facility in Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a public health challenge in countries around the world. The cost of management of CKD is enormous and unaffordable to most patients in the developing world. There is a dearth of data on characteristics of Ghanaian CKD patients at presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cross sectional study of CKD patients during their first visit to the renal clinic of a tertiary hospital adult renal service. Following informed consent, a questionnaire was used to gather demographic, anthropometric and clinical details of patients. Laboratory data of patients were also collected and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (64.5%) of 203 participants were male. Most were less than 60 years old and about one third were unemployed. Across all age groups stage 5 disease was the commonest presentation; however only 4.3% could afford to initiate haemodialysis. The mean number of dialysis sessions was 12.4 (range 6-18). Chronic glomerulonephritis (33%), hypertension (21.2%) and diabetes mellitus (22.2%) were found to be the leading causes of CKD. Common complications of CKD at presentation included anaemia (86.7%), pulmonary oedema (31%), high blood pressure (55%), and infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early detection of CKD and institution of measures to slow disease progression are to be encouraged. There is the need to make renal replacement therapy increasingly accessible and affordable to patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Yaw Ampem
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Amoako
authors.affiliation: Public Health Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Dennis Odai
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Laryea
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedu-Addo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.affiliation: Central Regional Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Yaw Asante
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Awuku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Ghana; developing world; dialysis