Urbanization and kidney function decline in low and middle income countries

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ram Jagannathan, Emory University; Rachel Patzer, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-08-29
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 The Author(s).
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12882-017-0685-4
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC Nephrology
• ISSN: 1471-2369
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 276
• End Page: 276
• Keywords: Science & Technology; CKD; Urology & Nephrology; DETERMINANTS; CAMEROONIANS; Low-Middle income countries; HIGH PREVALENCE; INDIA; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; RISK-FACTORS; Screening; Urbanization; Chronic kidney disease; DISEASE; CHINA; ADULT-POPULATION; Management
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Urbanization is expected to increase in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and might contribute to the increased disease burden. The association between urbanization and CKD is incompletely understood among LMICs. Recently, Inoue et al., explored the association of urbanization on renal function from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. The study found that individuals living in an urban environment had a higher odds of reduced renal function independent of behavioral and cardiometabolic measures, and this effect increased in a dose dependent manner. In this commentary, we discuss the results of these findings and explain the need for more surveillance studies among LMICs.