Laboratory characterization of patients with chronic renal failure in resource-limited settings, with special reference to the post-COVID-19 milieu

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a known global burden involving costly diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, is rampant in urban Indian localities. This study attempts to characterize a subset of proven CKD patients attending out-patient municipal clinics and dispensaries in Mumbai, with an emphasis on the post-COVID scenario. A cross-sectional and longitudinal study was executed in 60 such subjects along with an appropriate number of normal, healthy controls, who were routinely monitored i) up to March 2020, and ii) post-April 2022, the intervening period overlapping with extremely poor and even negligible patient attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic. CKD was estimated by its two most often utilized surrogate markers, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Amongst the participants, we observed slightly increased values in the aforesaid biomarkers, the underlying aetiology of which has not, to our knowledge, been studied in detail. We recommend comprehensive additional studies in order to corroborate our findings.