Chronic Kidney Disease among HIV-infected children receiving Anti-retroviral therapy at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing epidemic among children globally. There is limited data on CKD among children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with CKD in HIV infected children through a cross-sectional study at Uganda-Cares antiretroviral therapy (ART) Clinic in Masaka Regional Referral Hospital. Data was collected on social-demographic and clinical factors of the study population to assess factors predisposing them to CKD. The study population?s serum creatinine levels were measured followed by computation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) using the Schwartz formula. The prevalence of CKD among 138 HIV infected children was 16.7 % (95%CI 11.4 -24.1). All participants were aged between 2 and 17 years. School going children were 82% less likely to have CKD as compared to their counterparts that were not schooling, (aOR= 0.18, 95% CI 0.05- 0.67). On the contrary, the children whose parents/ guardians had acquired secondary school education were 7 times more likely to have CKD compared to parents who had not attained any level of formal education, (aOR= 6.9, 95 % CI 1.27-37.9). Additionally, children who had been on ART for over 5 years were 59% less likely to have CKD, (aOR= 0.41, 95%CI 0.15-1.13). CKD is high among HIV infected children. Those HIV infected children who had been on ART for less than 5 years; those not schooling as well as those whose parents/guardians attained secondary school education were at risk of developing CKD. Measuring regular eGFR early for regular screening of CKD should be advocated for HIV-infected children.