Prevalence and Associated Factors of Renal Disease in Saudi Residents Attending Primary Health Care Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Renal disease represents a significant and growing public health concern globally and within Saudi Arabia. Despite the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases, population-based data on the prevalence and determinants of renal disease in Saudi Arabia remain limited. Understanding epidemiology, including prevalence and associated risk factors of renal disease in the context of Saudi Arabia, is essential for designing preventive and early detection strategies.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of renal disease and to identify sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinically associated factors among adults attending primary health care centers (PHCs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted between March 2023 and July 2023 across 48 PHCs within Riyadh, using a consecutive sampling strategy. Adults aged 18 years and older were recruited and completed a validated, interviewer-administered electronic questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and medical history, including comorbid conditions and health care access. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with self-reported renal disease, with results expressed as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% CIs, ensuring model adequacy and precision.

RESULTS

A total of 14,239 participants were surveyed (n=7519, 52.8% female; mean age 41.6, SD 13.2 y). The prevalence of self-reported renal disease (including chronic kidney disease and kidney stones) was 3.5% (n=504). Individuals aged younger than 50 years had higher odds of renal disease (AOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.47). Female individuals were more likely to report renal disease than males (AOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.24-1.84). Participants with health insurance had increased odds (AOR1.74; 95% CI 1.44-2.11). Smoking was strongly associated with renal disease (AOR 3.07, 95% CI 2.38-3.96). Other important associated factors included comorbidities such as diabetes (AOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.12-2.04), hypertension (AOR 2.27, 95% CI 1.67-3.08), obesity (AOR 12.75, 95% CI 9.97-16.30), hypercholesterolemia (AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.43-2.60), and heart disease (AOR 6.84, 95% CI 5.14-9.10).

CONCLUSIONS

This large, community-based cross-sectional study identifies a significant burden of renal disease among adults in Riyadh and highlights several modifiable risk factors that could be targeted in preventive health programs. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating renal health screening within PHCs and strengthening public health strategies addressing obesity, hypertension, and smoking. While the study relied on self-reported data without biomarker or clinical confirmation, potentially underestimating true prevalence and introducing misclassification bias, it provides a crucial population-level baseline that can guide resource allocation and inform the development of nationwide surveillance systems for early detection of renal disease.