Screening Communities for CKD: Data from the DaVita-Saudi Kidney Care Program

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has attained epidemic proportions in many countries. Early detection and adequate therapy help slow progression of kidney failure and dialysis-dependent in Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: We report data from community CKD screening outreaches in the Saudi Kidney Care Program (KCP) spearheaded by the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with DaVita Care-KSA. Traditional media and digital information outlets achieved public engagement and sensitization regarding the screening program in the Makkah, Madinah, and Jubil. CKD screening of individuals ≥16 years old was performed in public institutions and door-to-door visits. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤ 60ml/min/1.73m2 or urine albumin-creatinine ratio >30mg/g creatinine. Results: A total of 12,563 adults (30.4% females, mean age 38.8±11.7 years) completed the screening process. Hypertension prevalence was 31.3% (95% CI 30.5 –32.2%), elevated blood glucose 15.1% (14.4 – 15.7%), and obesity 34.1% (33.3– 34.9%). CKD prevalence was 10.7% (10.1 – 11.2%) with a female preponderance, shown in table1. Increasing age (odds ratio 1.03, p<0.001), female sex (OR 1.22, p=0.005), hypertension (OR 2.07, p<0.001), elevated blood glucose (3.14, p<0.001) and CKD family history (1.24, p=0.02) were independently associated with increased CKD risk. Conclusion: Saudi Arabia, with a high CKD prevalence and young population, is ripe for a sustainable, targeted national CKD screening program. Table 1: CKD prevalence in select population subgroups - Risk Group CKD Prevalence (%) 95% CI (%) Hypertension only 17.8 16.6-19.0 Diabetes only 29.1 27.1-31.2 Obesity only 13.4 12.4-14.4 Elevated blood glucose and Hypertension 38.4 35.3-41.7 Elevated blood glucose and obesity 29.1 26.1-32.2 Hypertension & Obesity 19.7 17.8-21.6 At least one traditional CKD risk factor 14.8 13.9-15.6 Family history of CKD 12.7 10.8 – 14.8 Gender Female 11.3 10.3-12.4 Male 10.4 9.7-11.0 Age group < 20 years 9.7 6.7-13.5 20 – 40 years 6.4 5.9-7.0 40 – 60 years 14.5 13.5-15.6 ≥60 years 31.9 28.2-35.8