Sickle cell trait is not associated with chronic kidney disease in adult Congolese patients: a clinic-based, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the determinants of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with special emphasis on sickle cell trait (SCT).

METHODS

Three hundred and fifty-nine patients (171 men and 188 women), aged 18 years or older, with reduced kidney function (eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and seen at secondary and tertiary healthcare in Kinshasa were consecutively recruited in this cross-sectional study. Serum creatinine and haemoglobin electrophoresis were performed in each patient. CKD was defined as < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess determinants of CKD with a special emphasis on SCT. A p-value < 0.05 defined the level of statistical significance.

RESULTS

SCT was present in 19% of the study population; its frequency was 21 and 18% (p > 0.05) in patients with and without CKD, respectively. In multivariate analysis, sickle cell trait was not significantly (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.559-1.839; p = 0.235) associated with CKD; the main determinants were dipstick proteinuria (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.094-3.168; p = 0.02), the metabolic syndrome (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.033-2.965; p = 0.03), haemoblobin ≥ 12 g/dl (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.210-0.625; p = 0.001), and personal history of hypertension (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.202-3.892; p = 0.01) and of diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.150-4.454; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

SCT was not an independent determinant of CKD in the present case series. Traditional risk factors emerged as the main determinants of CKD.