Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden and Association With CKD in Ghana and Nigeria

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Public Health in Africa

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.
• The prevalence of CVD risk factors in African CKD patients is not well understood.
• This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding CVD risk factors in African populations with CKD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of key cardiovascular risk factors in patients with and without CKD in Ghana and Nigeria.
• To investigate the association between these risk factors and CKD.
• To provide data for targeted interventions in African CKD populations.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 8396 participants (3956 with CKD) in Ghana and Nigeria.
• CKD defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m² and/or albuminuria.
• Assessed self-reported hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and smoking; analyzed associations using multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of hypertension (59%), diabetes (20%), and elevated cholesterol (9.9%) was significantly higher in CKD patients.
• Risk factor prevalence was greater in Ghana than in Nigeria.
• Hypertension (aOR=1.69), elevated cholesterol (aOR=2.0), age >50, and low BMI (<18.5 kg/m²) were independently associated with CKD.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent in middle-aged adults with CKD in Ghana and Nigeria.
• Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and underweight are independently associated with CKD in this population.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted CVD prevention strategies in African CKD patients.