Assessment of Kidney Impairment and Related Risk Factors in Pregnant Women Attending the University Center for Public Health and Rango Health Centers in the Southern Province of Rwanda.

Background: Pregnant women are susceptible to kidney function impairment due to physiological and metabolic changes induced by pregnancy. A series of studies suggested an overall progressive increase in glomerular filtration rate approximating 40-50% of the non-pregnant state. Objective: To determine the prevalence of kidney impairment and related risk factors in pregnant women attending the University Center for Public Health and Rango health centers in Rwanda. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study that enrolled 139 consecutive pregnant women was conducted. Serum creatinine and qualitative urine protein and glucose determinations were carried out using standard laboratory methods to assess the integrity of kidney function. Results: The prevalence of kidney impairment in pregnant women was 20.9% comprising mainly women in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (60.4%). Among the women with kidney impairment, 2.9% had high blood pressure. Of the overall study participants, 8.6% had glycosuria whilst 5% had proteinuria. The majority had gravida of one. There was a significant association between hypertension, glucosuria, age and gravida with kidney impairment (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Findings show that pregnancy with or without putative risk factors is associated with kidney impairment in apparently healthy women, as shown by the high prevalence of 20.9%. We therefore recommend routine screening of kidney dysfunction during pregnancy.