Awareness and Prevalence of Risk Factors of Chronic Kidney Disease in Rabigh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Community Perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global health problem. Growing prevalence rates of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension further add on to potential increase in CKD along with many other contributing risk factors. Community knowledge regarding CKD is gaining more importance considering magnitude of disease and limited available resources.

Aims & Objectives: To assess community knowledge about CKD and explore prevalence of risk factors for developing CKD among the inhabitants of Rabigh city in Saudi Arabia.

Place and duration of study: Rabigh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Material & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional household survey was performed. Self-administered semi structured questionnaire made by research team was used to interview 340 Saudi inhabitants of the Rabigh city. The required information about awareness of CKD sign and symptoms and its risk factors was obtained and then analyzed using SPSS.

Results: Study found limited knowledge about signs (23.8%) and symptoms (24.7%) and relatively more idea about treatment options (76.8%). For the CKD risk factors, 61.5% were positive. Out of those, among many risk factors hypertension, proteinuria, family history of kidney disease and DM were found in 17.8%, 17.3%, 15.3% and 13.9% respectively. The most vulnerable age for the CKD risk factors was between 3rd to 4th and 7th decade.

Conclusion: This study showed varied responses in terms of awareness regarding salient aspects of CKD. More than half of Saudi population under survey of the Rabigh city had risk factors for the CKD. Considering limited knowledge and higher prevalence of risk factors study suggests further exploration to enable early detection of CKD risk factors and prevention through effective awareness program.