title: Prevalence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease in a rural region of Haiti.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Caribbean region chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing challenge. High rates of non-communicable and infectious diseases and the rise in people suffering from diabetes and hypertension explain the observed and further expected increase of CKD. However, data about the magnitude of the problem are rare and in some countries such as Haiti completely lacking. The aim of our study was to generate data about the prevalence and risk factors for CKD in a rural region in Haiti.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cross-sectional study, adult patients visiting the medical outpatient clinic of the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) in Deschapelles Haiti were included. CKD was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and measurement of proteinuria by dipstick test. Risk factors for CKD were assessed by clinical examinations and questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 608 patients were screened for CKD, of whom 27% had CKD. CKD stages 1 to 2 were found in 15.3% and stages 3 to 5 in 11.7%. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus was 49.2% and 36.3%, respectively. Risk factors independently associated with CKD were hypertension (p = 0.0002) and HIV infection (p = 0.019) and age >60 years (p = 0.0052), whereas diabetes mellitus was not independently associated (p = 0.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show a high prevalence of CKD and traditional risk factors, and their association with CKD in Haiti. These findings have now to be confirmed in other regions in longitudinal analyses as a basic step to build up screening and prevention programmes for CKD.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Transplant Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burkhalter
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Deschappelles, Haiti.
authors.forename: Herriot
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sannon
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Transplant Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, and Medical Outpatient Department, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Transplant Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dickenmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Deschappelles, Haiti.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000453:epidemiology; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult