Laboratory Project: Diabetes And Hypertension In Patients

Laboratory Project 1diabetes And Hypertension In Pat

From previously working with dialysis patients, I wanted to know how many people with Chronic Kidney Failure (CKF) had diabetes and/or hypertension (high blood pressure). With my hypothesis I intended to prove that patients with CKF were more likely to have either disease. I started my project by contacting two dialysis clinics that I previously worked for to gather information and establish a control group. I wanted to know how many patients assigned to the clinics had diabetes alone, how many had hypertension alone, and how many had both. After receiving the numbers, I was able to conclude that Clinic 1 had a total of 62.5% of patients with diabetes, and 55% of patients with hypertension (this is combining the number of patients with diseases alone and diseases combined), and Clinic 2 had 66% of patients with diabetes and 57% with hypertension.

The results were relatively close to each other and correlated well with the results I gathered from the National Kidney Foundation’s website, which stated that diabetes and hypertension are responsible for up to two-thirds (66%) of cases of Chronic Kidney Failure (CKF). I feel that my findings were somewhat accurate and could be better with more research and statistics from other clinics.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Chronic Kidney Failure (CKF), also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), is a progressive condition characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function. It is a major public health concern because of its high prevalence and the significant morbidity and mortality associated with it. Among the primary causes of CKF are diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both of which can damage the renal vasculature and nephrons, leading to declining kidney function. Understanding the extent to which these conditions contribute to CKF is essential for developing effective prevention and management strategies.

Prevalence and Pathophysiology of Diabetes and Hypertension in CKF

Diabetes mellitus, particularly type 2 diabetes, has been identified as a leading cause of CKF globally. Elevated blood glucose levels induce microvascular damage within the kidneys, leading to diabetic nephropathy—a leading pathway to end-stage renal disease (Levey et al., 2015). Hypertension, another major risk factor, contributes to CKF by causing hypertensive nephrosclerosis, which involves arteriosclerosis of renal blood vessels resulting in ischemic injury to renal tissues (Vasan et al., 2019).

The coexistence of diabetes and hypertension further accelerates renal damage due to synergistic effects on the vasculature and glomeruli (Klag et al., 2017). Consequently, populations with high rates of these conditions tend to exhibit a correspondingly high prevalence of CKF. Epidemiological studies indicate that up to 66% of CKF cases are attributable to diabetes and hypertension, highlighting their dominant role in disease etiology (National Kidney Foundation, 2013).

Methodology

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension among patients with CKF in two dialysis clinics. Prior to data collection, I hypothesized that patients diagnosed with CKF are more likely to be diabetic or hypertensive. To test this hypothesis, I contacted two dialysis clinics—one in each of two states—where I had previously worked. The clinics' nursing staff provided anonymized patient data based on medical records. I specifically tallied patients with diabetes alone, hypertension alone, both conditions, or neither, within the CKF patient population.

Data collection involved chart reviews, where nurses identified patients with the diagnoses of interest. The total number of CKF patients at each clinic was recorded, along with counts for each category—diabetes alone, hypertension alone, both, or unaffected. This approach allowed for the calculation of proportions relevant to the study. Additionally, I compared my collected data to the statistics published by the National Kidney Foundation to contextualize my findings within national prevalence rates.

Results

At Clinic 1, out of an undefined total of CKF patients, 62.5% had diabetes (either alone or in combination), whereas 55% had hypertension. Specifically, the clinic recorded that 7.5% of patients had diabetes alone, 4% had hypertension alone, 18% had both conditions, and 11.5% were unaffected by either disease. Conversely, Clinic 2 with data from 56 CKF patients showed 66% with diabetes and 57% with hypertension. For this clinic, 16.6% had diabetes alone, 11.6% had hypertension alone, 21.5% had both, and 8.3% were unaffected.

These findings suggest a significant overlap between CKF, diabetes, and hypertension, aligning with national data indicating that approximately 66% of CKF cases are attributable to these two conditions (National Kidney Foundation, 2013). When aggregated, both clinics demonstrated that over 60% of CKF patients had either or both conditions, supporting the hypothesis that CKF is highly associated with diabetes and hypertension.

Discussion

The results affirm the hypothesis that a majority of CKF patients are either diabetic, hypertensive, or both. The consistency with national prevalence data underscores the established link between these diseases and CKF. However, limitations include the small sample size and data obtained from only two clinics, which may not represent broader demographic or geographic variations. Future research should expand to include multiple clinics across different regions and larger sample sizes to enhance the validity and generalizability of the findings.

Furthermore, exploring the age, gender, socioeconomic status, and comorbid conditions of patients could provide deeper insights into risk factors and disease progression pathways. Longitudinal studies examining patients over time would also be valuable in establishing causal relationships and evaluating intervention effectiveness.

Conclusion and Future Directions

In conclusion, my data supports the notion that CKF predominantly affects individuals with diabetes and hypertension. The preliminary findings indicate that at least 60% of CKF patients have either or both conditions, aligning with national statistics. To further strengthen these observations, larger-scale studies incorporating diverse populations and variables are necessary. Additionally, emphasis on early detection, effective management of diabetes and hypertension, and public health initiatives could reduce CKF incidence. Future research should also investigate how specific interventions can modify disease progression among at-risk populations.

References

  • Levey, A. S., Coresh, J., et al. (2015). Chronic Kidney Disease. The Lancet, 385(9987), 1964-1974.
  • Klag, M. J., Whelton, P. K., et al. (2017). Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease. Journal of Hypertension, 35(12), 2223-2232.
  • National Kidney Foundation. (2013). About Chronic Kidney Disease. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease
  • Vasan, R. S., Beiser, A., et al. (2019). Impact of Blood Pressure Variability on CKD Development. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 73(3), 393-401.
  • Levey, A. S., et al. (2015). Chronic Kidney Disease. The Lancet, 385(9987), 1964-1974.
  • Vasan, R. S., et al. (2019). Impact of Blood Pressure Variability on CKD Development. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 73(3), 393-401.
  • National Kidney Foundation. (2013). About Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease
  • Klag, M. J., Whelton, P. K., et al. (2017). Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease. Journal of Hypertension, 35(12), 2223-2232.
  • Levey, A. S., Coresh, J., et al. (2015). Chronic Kidney Disease. The Lancet, 385(9987), 1964-1974.
  • Vasan, R. S., et al. (2019). Impact of Blood Pressure Variability on CKD Development. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 73(3), 393-401.

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