Assessment of the hematological profile of children with chronic kidney disease on follow-up at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College and Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue with an increasing incidence and prevalence worldwide. In CKD, hematological parameters are influenced, and the effect increases with CKD stage. It is becoming more common in Ethiopia, and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, but there have been very few studies on the hematological profile of children with chronic kidney disease, on follow-up in general, and particularly among chronic kidney disease patients.Methods: At Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, a cross-sectional study was carried out from March to June 2021. EDTA tubes were used to collect a total of 238 blood samples, which were then examined on a Beckman Coulter automated hematology analyzer. SPSS Version 20 was used for statistical analysis, and a logistic regression model was applied.Results: The total number of patients in the study was 238, with 42 (59.7%) of them being men. With a p-value of 0.05, there was a significant correlation and association with having co-morbidities such as hypertension and anemia, as well as a low range of Hgb in bivariate correlational analysis. In a multivariate regression analysis, eGFR-based CKD stages were strongly associated with a low range of hemoglobin concentration, with a p-value of 0.001. (0.000). Overall, 39 (or 16.4%) of CKD patients were anemic. In terms of age, 176 (73.9 %) of the children were over the age of five. The majority of the patients (81%) had CKD stage 1(34%). The study also found that having CKD for a longer period of time (> 5 years) and being hypertensive have an effect on the growth indicator MUAC, with a p-value of 0.0001 and 0.0001.Conclusion: The study found that the majority of study participants were in stages 1 to 3 based on their eGFR, which is significantly related to RBC, HGB, and HCT count. There is a need to improve multiple aspects of CKD management, including routine hematological tests for children with chronic kidney disease, specifically RBCs, Hgb, PLT, WBCs, and differential count.