title: Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease, with special emphasis on chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology, in the north central region of Sri Lanka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to identify the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out by analyzing health statistics, and three cohort studies were conducted (n = 15 630, 3996, and 2809) to analyze the demographic information, age-specific prevalence, etiology, and stage of presentation. We screened 7604 individuals for chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the male:female ratio was 2.4:1, the mean age of patients was 54.7 ± 8 years, 92% of the patients were farmers, and 93% consumed water from shallow dug wells. Familial occurrence was common (36%). The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in different age groups was 3% in those aged 30-40 years; 7% in those aged 41-50 years, 20% in those aged 51-60 years, and 29% in those older than 60 years. Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology was diagnosed in 70.2% of patients, while 15.7% and 9.6% were due to hypertension and diabetic mellitus, respectively. The majority of patients were stage 4 (40%) at first presentation, while 31.8% were stage 3 and 24.5% were stage 5. Stage 1 and 2 presentation accounted for only 3.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low prevalence of CKDU was noticed (1.5%) among those who consumed water from natural springs. Prevalence was highest among males, rice farming communities, and those presenting at later disease stages.
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University.
authors: Kithsiri Bandara
authors: KB
authors: Jayasekara
authors: Dhammika Menike
authors: DM
authors: Dissanayake
authors: Ramiah
authors: R
authors: Sivakanesan
authors: Asanga
authors: A
authors: Ranasinghe
authors: Ranawaka Hewage
authors: RH
authors: Karunarathna
authors: Gardiye Waligamage Gamini
authors: GW
authors: Priyantha Kumara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060985:Natural Springs; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult