Early Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease and Physical Growth in Children - A Hospital Based Study

Background: Growth retardation is the common complication in children with chronic kidney disease. As it develop in early stages of the disease, growth monitoring is essential. Methods: The observational study was carried out in Institute of Child Health, Chennai. A total of 125 children with stage 2 to stage 4 were included in the study. The growth parameters were measured and plotted in growth charts prescribed by Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Results: Among 125 children with chronic kidney disease, 89(71.2%) of them were boys with ratio of 2.4:1. The mean age at presentation was 9.27 ± 2.57. Congenital structural defects found in 59(47.2%) and 44(35.2%) children with glomerular disease. Majority, 73(58.4%) were in stage 2, 20(16%) in stage 3 and 32(25.6%) in stage 4. The mean duration of diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease was 2.4 years. The mean height at presentation was 117.6 cm. Severely stunted growth among 59 (43.7%) children with height < 3rd percentile. Likewise, 55(44%) were underweight. The mean weight at presentation was 21.43kg. For Body Mass Index, 66(52.8%) children were