A pilot programme to study the risk of kidney disease in just over 2,000 students of colleges in and around Chennai has showed a disconcerting constellation of risk factors for chronic disease in the youth. The project is a collaborative effort between experts at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and MIOT Hospitals, along with Sapiens Health Foundation.
Rajan Ravichandran, of the department of nephrology at MIOT Hospital, says about 6 per cent of the students showed abnormal readings for a protein in the urine, and 6 per cent for traces of sugar in the urine. About 19 per cent were obese with a BMI of over 25; this is a clear forerunner for metabolic problems, he explained.
Additionally, students also showed abnormal blood pressure readings, Dr. Ravichandran said. “We decided to take up a study among students because they are enthusiastic and respond well to awareness messages. In fact, about 94 per cent of the students we called responded by taking the test. We have not got that kind of response with the older population.”
The test was performed with a simple home test kit, conceived and implemented like the home pregnancy kit, which uses a drop of urine to test some basic parameters. It was easy for the students to use, and some of them were also trained to record BP and calculate BMI, and given awareness on avoiding kidney disease, he added. In the next stage, the plan is to test more students, and take it beyond screening by providing assistance for further tests.
The results of the study were presented at the recent conference of the American Society of Nephrology in the U.S., Dr. Ravichandran said, along with Dr. Panduranga Rao of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
