ISSN: 2639-2038
Authors: Jayasekara K*, Gunaratne G, Nisansala T, Kulasooriya P and Gunawickrama N
Background: In the North Central Region (NCR) of Sri Lanka, health experts have noted a significant prevalence of CKD due to uncertain aetiology (CKDu). The disease is more prevalence among farming communities. Objectives: This study aims to use case-control studies to determine the agricultural and sociological risk variables associated with CKDu in farming communities. Methods: Information regarding exposure to risk factors, employing labour for agricultural activities and pesticide protection status were obtained from 274 recently diagnosed, confirmed CKDu patients. Eventually formed age and sex-matched healthy individuals (274) were selected as controls. Information regarding drinking water sources, smoking, alcohol use, family history of CKDu, snake envenomation, and malaria history were also gathered from both groups. Results: The conditional logistic regression model was used to compare the relative risk of each component. Engagement in agricultural activities involving more than 2 hectares (OR: 3.415), poor agrochemical protection (OR: 1.966), and cultivating fields without employing labour (OR: 4.383) were found as major risk factors for CKDu. Smoking(OR: 2.951) and a family medical history of CKDu(OR: 2.809) were also found as significant lifestyle-related risk factors in farming communities, as were consuming drinking water from shallow wells(OR: 2.050) and snake envenomation(OR: 1.602). Significance: Severe agricultural activities and poor pesticide protection status point to the need for farmers to be educated on safe agriculture and agrochemical use.
Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease; Agricultural Activities; Ckdu; Smoking; Agrochemicals; Agricultural Risk Factors
