Study of Chronic Renal Failure in Military Hospital Sana’a. Yemen

Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a major public health problem. Early diagnosis and treatment are basic for its prognosis, and it will be fundamental for the future necessity of substitutive renal treatment. For this purpose, determining the etiology of CRF may be helpful. This study was conducted in the Nephrology Department at the Central Military Hospital in Sana’a, Yemen from 2004 to 2007; to determine the etiology of CRF in 334 patients (211 men and 123 women) on regular hemodialysis. The Hypertensive Nephropathies (24%) was the commonest cause of CRF. Diabetic Nephropathies (20%), Obstructive Nephropathy (16%), Chronic Pyelonephritis, Glomerulonephritis, Polycystic Kidney, Schistosomiasis (Bilharzias) were less common. There were more men than women (63% vs. 37%, respectively). The mean age range of the patients was 42 years old. At study entry, 86 (29%) were dialyzing via native Artery Venous Fistula (AVF) and 11 (4.7%) through a synthetic graft. The Temporary Catheter was the most common form of vascular access used in 272 (81%) patients and AVF the second most frequent (26%). The mortality during this period was 22.9%, being the Cardiovascular Disease the main cause of death (56%), followed by Septicemia (18%). Other causes of death included Pulmonary Infection and Cirrhosis. Hypertension, late referral, smoking and Qats were the commonest co-morbid causes. According to our study we would like to include the habit of chewing Qats as a risk factor to progression of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in patients with CRF.