Study of Evidences on Chronic Kidney Disease Due to Unknown Etiology Based on Environmental, Social, Economic and Health Patterns of Selected Population

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is becoming a major rising public health problem in Sri Lanka. In addition, CKD has a very complicated interrelationship with other diseases. Accordingly, a community-based study was conducted to identify the evidences of the prevalence of CKD and correlate the relationship between drinking water and causes for CKD. Further, a study was conducted to identify the impact on lifestyle due to CKD issue. The study particularly focused on the Wilgamuwa Divisional Secretariat area where the burden of CKD is pronounced and the underlying cause is still unknown. The sample of the study was selected representing high and low prevalence of CKD which included both patients and non-patients. A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather data, mainly focused on areas like drinking water sources, social, environmental, health, economic, genetic and cultivation practices. Drinking water sources from the dug wells and deep tube wells used by both patients and non-patients was analysed for physical and chemical parameters including heavy metals. Water quality parameters like pH, conductivity, turbidity, oxidation- reduction potential and dissolved Oxygen were analysed onsite. Heavy metals were analysed from Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and anions was analysed from Ion Chromatography (IC). Locations of water sources and patients and non-patients were traced by GPS and a groundwater quality and patient’s distribution map was prepared using GIS and a study of the patient distribution and causative factors interrelating the water quality was conducted. Based on all the water quality parameters and questionnaire survey results in the study, some of the dug wells in the area were identified as doubtful whereas some were suitable for drinking water. It can be concluded that there is no relationship with Hardiness and Fluoride with CKDU and most of the water quality parameters did not exceed the SLS drinking water standards SLS 614:2013.