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Point-of-care biomarkers for prediction of kidney function trajectory among sugarcane cutters : a comparative test accuracy study

Hansson, Erik ; Wesseling, Catharina ; Wegman, David ; Ekström, Ulf LU ; Chavarria, Denis ; Glaser, Jason and Jakobsson, Kristina (2022) In BMJ Open 12(11).
Abstract

Objectives Heat-stressed Mesoamerican workers, such as sugarcane cutters, suffer from high rates of chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt). We aimed to identify easily available early markers of rapid kidney function decline in a population at high risk of CKDnt. Design The accuracy of different biomarkers measured during harvest for prediction of cross-harvest kidney function decline were assessed in an exploratory study group, and the performance of the most promising biomarker was then assessed in an independent confirmation group. Setting Male sugarcane cutters in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Participants 39 male Salvadoran sugarcane cutters sampled fortnightly at ≤9 occasions before and after work shift during... (More)

Objectives Heat-stressed Mesoamerican workers, such as sugarcane cutters, suffer from high rates of chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt). We aimed to identify easily available early markers of rapid kidney function decline in a population at high risk of CKDnt. Design The accuracy of different biomarkers measured during harvest for prediction of cross-harvest kidney function decline were assessed in an exploratory study group, and the performance of the most promising biomarker was then assessed in an independent confirmation group. Setting Male sugarcane cutters in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Participants 39 male Salvadoran sugarcane cutters sampled fortnightly at ≤9 occasions before and after work shift during harvest. 371 male Nicaraguan sugarcane cutters were sampled as part of routine monitoring during two harvests. Cutters worked at high physical intensity at wet-bulb globe temperatures mostly above 29°C for 6-8 hours per day 6 days a week during the 5-6 months harvest season. Primary outcomes Change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (CKD Epidemiology Collaboration) across the harvest season (Î "eGFR cross-harvest). Results Dipstick leukocyturia after work shift in the El Salvadoran group was the most promising marker, explaining >25% of Î "eGFR cross-harvest variance at 8/9 occasions during harvest. Leukocyturia was associated with experiencing fever, little or dark urine, cramps, headache, dizziness and abdominal pain in the preceding 2-week period. Decreasing blood haemoglobin (Hb) and eGFR during harvest were also predictive of Î "eGFR cross-harvest. In the Nicaraguan confirmation dataset, those having ≥++ leukocyturia at any sampling during harvest had a 13 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (95% CI 10 to 16 mL/min/1.73 m 2) worse Î "eGFR cross-harvest than those without recorded leukocyturia. Conclusion Leukocyturia and Hb, both measurable with point-of-care methods, may be early indicators for kidney injury and risk for eGFR decline among heat-stressed male workers, thereby facilitating individual-level prevention and research aiming to understand the causes of CKDnt.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, occupational & industrial medicine
in
BMJ Open
volume
12
issue
11
article number
e060364
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85142401466
  • pmid:36400724
ISSN
2044-6055
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060364
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f500442d-3069-4b97-8acf-5151588433a2
date added to LUP
2022-12-27 13:51:20
date last changed
2024-06-13 22:12:05
@article{f500442d-3069-4b97-8acf-5151588433a2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives Heat-stressed Mesoamerican workers, such as sugarcane cutters, suffer from high rates of chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt). We aimed to identify easily available early markers of rapid kidney function decline in a population at high risk of CKDnt. Design The accuracy of different biomarkers measured during harvest for prediction of cross-harvest kidney function decline were assessed in an exploratory study group, and the performance of the most promising biomarker was then assessed in an independent confirmation group. Setting Male sugarcane cutters in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Participants 39 male Salvadoran sugarcane cutters sampled fortnightly at ≤9 occasions before and after work shift during harvest. 371 male Nicaraguan sugarcane cutters were sampled as part of routine monitoring during two harvests. Cutters worked at high physical intensity at wet-bulb globe temperatures mostly above 29°C for 6-8 hours per day 6 days a week during the 5-6 months harvest season. Primary outcomes Change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (CKD Epidemiology Collaboration) across the harvest season (Î "eGFR cross-harvest). Results Dipstick leukocyturia after work shift in the El Salvadoran group was the most promising marker, explaining &gt;25% of Î "eGFR cross-harvest variance at 8/9 occasions during harvest. Leukocyturia was associated with experiencing fever, little or dark urine, cramps, headache, dizziness and abdominal pain in the preceding 2-week period. Decreasing blood haemoglobin (Hb) and eGFR during harvest were also predictive of Î "eGFR cross-harvest. In the Nicaraguan confirmation dataset, those having ≥++ leukocyturia at any sampling during harvest had a 13 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (95% CI 10 to 16 mL/min/1.73 m 2) worse Î "eGFR cross-harvest than those without recorded leukocyturia. Conclusion Leukocyturia and Hb, both measurable with point-of-care methods, may be early indicators for kidney injury and risk for eGFR decline among heat-stressed male workers, thereby facilitating individual-level prevention and research aiming to understand the causes of CKDnt.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hansson, Erik and Wesseling, Catharina and Wegman, David and Ekström, Ulf and Chavarria, Denis and Glaser, Jason and Jakobsson, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{2044-6055}},
  keywords     = {{acute renal failure; chronic renal failure; occupational & industrial medicine}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{BMJ Open}},
  title        = {{Point-of-care biomarkers for prediction of kidney function trajectory among sugarcane cutters : a comparative test accuracy study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060364}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060364}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}