Studies of preventive nephrology: self-urinalysis as a feasible method for early detection of renal damage

Abstract

The ever expanding pool of ESRF patients is exerting considerable strain on the health care resources of all nations of the world. Rationing, in one form or the other has therefore become the norm for most countries. Because dialysis prolongs life and is more readily available, and because ethically acceptable donor kidneys remain in. Short supply. Thus limiting the potential of renal transplantation, this rather exasperating situation is bound to continue unless the entry point into the pool can be actively tacked. As part of our initial effort in this direction, we have examined the feasibility of self-urinalysis by the general population as an epidemiological tool for detecting evidence of early renal damage by a total population cross-sectional survey of Faizia East Primary Health District (FEPHD) of Buraidah, capital city of the Gassim region of Saudi Arabia. Out of a de facto population of 7,695, 75.37% (5,800) cooperated fully Majority of those who could not cooperate (881 [ 11 44%]) were infants and children. A total of 969 subjects (12.59%), mostly males at work, were not available. Only 45 (0.58%) subjects refused to participate. Housewives were significantly more amenable to the organisation of family self-urinalysis than head of the family (92.2% vs 614%; chi square = 321.78; df: 3; P < 0.0001). The mean family size was 7.82 (± SD: 3.82). Above the age of 4 >ears. 66.5% of males (2108/3170) as against 81.7% of females (2.641/3232) were able to carry our self-urinalysis. 11 76% of boys and 8.5% of girls below the age of 5 years were able to carry- out self-urinalysis. Only 0.05% of male subjects and 0.03% of females failed to interpret colour change for proteinuria correctly. Similar remarkable competence was demonstrated for glycosuria by the population. We conclude that self-urinalysis is quite feasible in the general population, even if illiterates, if young. It can form a sound foundation, if properly harnessed, for a renal registry.