The Indian Chronic Kidney Disease (ICKD) study: baseline characteristics

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a lack of information on epidemiology and progression of CKD in low-middle income countries. The Indian Chronic Kidney Disease (ICKD) study aims to identify factors that associate with CKD progression, and development of kidney failure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Indian patients with CKD.

ICKD study is prospective, multicentric cohort study enrolling patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15-60 mL/min/1.73 m², or >60 mL/min/1.73 m² with proteinuria. Clinical details and biological samples are collected at annual visits. We analysed the baseline characteristics including socio-demographic details, risk factors, disease characteristics and laboratory measurements. In addition, we compared characteristics between urban and rural participants.

A total of 4056 patients have been enrolled up to 31 March 2020. The mean ± SD age was 50.3 ± 11.8 years, 67.2% were males, two-thirds of patients lived in rural areas and the median eGFR was 40 mL/min/1.73 m². About 87% were hypertensive, 37% had diabetes, 22% had CVD, 6.7% had past history of acute kidney injury and 23% reported prior use of alternative drugs. Diabetic kidney disease, chronic interstitial nephritis (CIN) and CKD-cause unknown (CKDu) were the leading causes. Rural participants had more occupational exposure and tobacco use but lower educational status and income. CIN and unknown categories were leading causes in rural participants.

The ICKD study is the only large cohort study of patients with mild-to-moderate CKD in a lower middle income country. Baseline characteristics of study population reveal differences as compared with other cohorts from high-income countries.