Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Aged 6–15 Years and Associated Risk Factors in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, Mexico, a Pilot Study

Introduction: Tlaxcala, a small state in central Mexico, has the highest prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) deaths in population aged 5–14 in Mexico, most of them with unknown etiology. Objective: To determine the prevalence of CKD in apparently healthy pediatric population in Apizaco, Tlaxcala. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was carried out in children deemed as healthy; subjects with previous diagnosis of CKD were excluded. Informed consent was obtained in all cases. A physical examination was performed, a questionnaire was applied. Blood and urine samples were obtained for serum creatinine, urinalysis, and microalbumin/creatinine ratio. A second and third evaluation was performed after 6 and 18 months in those found with urinary anomalies/CKD to confirm the diagnosis. Results: One hundred and nine subjects completed physical examination, which are the biological samples. Median age was 12 years. CKD stage 2 was confirmed in 5 subjects in the sixth month confirmation visit (4.6%). One patient accepted renal biopsy and Alport Syndrome was found. In a robust multivariate analysis, the risk factors related to reduction in the glomerular filtration rate were males –5.15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (p = 0.002), older participants as by –1.58 mL/min/1.73 m 2 per year (p < 0.0001), and among participants living close to a river –3.76 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (p = 0.033). Discussion/Conclusion: The prevalence of CKD in the population studied in Apizaco Tlaxcala was confirmed in 4.6 cases per 100 inhabitants between 6 and 15 years. Males, older age, and living close to a river were the risk predictive factors. More studies are needed to determine the causes of the high CKD prevalence in this population.