A Study to Assess Renal Function Tests Amongst Chronic Alcoholics at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: The WHO statistics show that 4.5% of the worldwide burden of disease and injury was due to alcohol. Globally, around 11.5% of drinkers usually have heavy episodic drinking situations. Apart from the estimated GFR, urinary albumin level can also be used to complement the classification of chronic kidney disease. Till now, only two prospective studies have found the association between alcohol consumption and both components of chronic kidney disease. The present study was conducted with the main aim to assess the renal function tests amongst chronic alcoholics.Materials and Methods: The present prospective study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, TeerthankerMahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (India) and a total of 50 alcoholics with the age range between 26 to 55 years were included in the study and were compared to 50 non-alcoholics and healthy controls. The qualitative urine analysis was done using DX urine reagent strips from the Piramal health care company. All the data was arranged in a tabulated form and analysed using SPSS software. Student t test was used for statistical analysis and p value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The present study consisted of 100 participants. Out of these 50 were controls and 50 were cases. The mean age amongst the cases was 37.32+/-3.45 years and the mean age amongst the controls were 38.33+/-2.1 years. The mean urea level amongst the cases and controls was 20.24 ± 9.73 mg/dl and 24.17 ± 7.25 mg/dl. There was a significant difference amongst the cases and controls. The mean creatinine amongst cases was 0.83 ± 0.15 mg/dl while that amongst the controls was 0.86 ± 0.12 mg/dl. Conclusion: There was significant decrease in potassium level amongst the alcoholics. The mean eGFR was higher amongst the alcoholics while very few of them had traces of proteinuria.