Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease in Latin America: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a global health concern, with particular significance in Latin America due to socioeconomic inequalities and heterogeneous health care systems.

To determine the prevalence of CKD in Latin American populations through a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies following the PRISMA guidelines.

Twelve Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru).

A total of 72 486 participants from 21 observational studies reporting CKD prevalence in Latin American populations.

The CKD prevalence according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) or Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) criteria, stratified by age groups (<60-65 vs ≥60-65 years), sex, CKD categories (G1-G5), and country.

Systematic search in PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. Observational studies using standardized CKD diagnostic criteria were included without language restrictions. A meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models with a Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. The risk of bias was assessed using the Munn et al tool. Meta-regressions examined temporal trends and the effects of sample size.

The pooled CKD prevalence was 17.14% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 13.40-21.23%) with high heterogeneity (I² = 99.5%). Age-stratified analysis revealed a prevalence of 11.66% (95% CI = 8.09%-15.79%) in younger adults and 28.29% (95% CI = 22.34%-34.64%) in older adults. Women showed a higher prevalence (19.23%) compared to men (16.75%). Country-specific estimates ranged from 7.26% in Ecuador to 27.14% in Haiti. Meta-regression showed no significant temporal trend (P = .178).

High between-study heterogeneity, most studies used single measurements rather than confirming chronicity, potential publication bias favoring higher prevalence studies, and limited representation from certain countries, which restricts generalizability.

The prevalence of CKD in Latin America exhibits marked age-related differences, with consistently higher rates in older adults. These findings support the need for age-specific prevention strategies and standardized diagnostic approaches across the region.

Not registered prospectively (limitation acknowledged).