Clinical Profile and Spectrum of Respiratory Disorders in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a wide range of systemic complications, of which respiratory system involvement is commonly present. These patients are found to be present with fluid overload, metabolic derangement, and diminished immunity, which leads to pulmonary complications and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The current study aimed to determine the clinical profile and spectrum of respiratory disorders in patients with CKD presenting to our hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study of 50 patients with CKD (stages 3-5) hospitalized in a tertiary care hospital was carried out. Clinical evaluation of patients, radiological investigations (CX-Ray and HRCT where necessary), pulmonary function test, arterial blood gases (ABG) analysis, along with tuberculosis screening, was performed. The analysis of the data was conducted to find out the prevalence of respiratory involvement, as well as to determine the patterns of respiratory vs. CKD stage and comorbidity. Results: In the 50 cases, we found that Pleural effusion was present in (44%, and pulmonary edema in 36% of cases, were the most common respiratory complications. Restrictive lung disease was present in 56% of cases, correlating with low FVC (62.3% predicted). Hypoxemia was prevalent in 82% of cases, with metabolic acidosis decreased (HCO₃⁻) in 78%. Tuberculosis was confirmed in 26.7% of suspected cases, predominantly via molecular testing (CBNAAT). Advanced CKD (Stage 4–5) showed stronger associations with pleural effusion (p<0.01) Conclusion: Respiratory complications are common in CKD populations and tend to be aggravated as the patient develops increasingly higher renal impairment. Therefore, early detection and management are crucial for better clinical outcomes and the reduction of complications