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Nearly one in four people screened so far in Andhra Pradesh’s Uddanam region have been found to have kidney disease, according to an interim analysis of an ongoing study aimed at identifying the causes of the region’s long-running kidney disease crisis.
Of the 3,897 people screened so far, 949, or 24.35%, were found to have kidney disease, The Hindu reported. Of these, 550 were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), while 399 were found to have chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu), according to an official statement issued on Saturday, September 12.
The findings were presented to state Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav by the team of experts conducting the study.
Uddanam, a cluster of villages in the Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, has for decades reported unusually high levels of kidney disease and deaths linked to renal failure. The problem has been documented since the early 1990s and has previously prompted studies by several institutions, including the Indian Council of Medical Research and Andhra University Medical College. A 2017 report said at least 4,500 people in the region had died from kidney-related ailments since 2005.
The causes of the disease, particularly CKDu, have remained a subject of investigation. Previous research has examined possible environmental and occupational factors, including drinking water quality, pesticide exposure and agricultural work. Researchers have also investigated groundwater for heavy metals. However, no single cause has been conclusively established.
The current study aims to screen 5,851 people across the Uddanam region and has so far covered four mandals. Kaviti mandal recorded the highest number and proportion of CKD and CKDu cases. Researchers said the findings warrant closer examination of environmental, occupational and other factors prevalent in the mandal.
The interim analysis is based only on the people screened so far. The remaining participants will be screened shortly, after which the findings will be analysed alongside environmental and biomarker data before firm conclusions are drawn, researchers said.
The study found that creatinine, urea and uric acid levels in the blood increased progressively with the severity of kidney disease, indicating a decline in kidney filtration capacity. Changes in kidney function became more pronounced as the disease advanced.
Researchers also analysed albumin levels in urine. Some participants were found to have abnormal albumin levels despite apparently normal kidney function. Those with both reduced kidney function and elevated urinary albumin would require close follow-up, the study suggested.
As part of the environmental component of the research, soil and water samples, along with blood and urine samples, are being tested for pesticide residues, heavy metals and other possible factors. The work is being carried out with support from the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad.
Researchers are also collecting information on drinking water sources, pesticide and fertiliser use, agricultural work, exposure to heat, lifestyle factors, diabetes, hypertension and medication use.
Among those screened so far, 55.3% were aged above 48, while around one-third were associated with agriculture. Tobacco use was reported by 38.8% of participants and alcohol consumption by 23.7%.
The research team is also studying urinary biomarkers that could help identify people at risk of developing kidney disease at an early stage. RNA sequencing and genetic factors will also be examined.
