Decreased renal function among children born to women with obstructed labour in Eastern Uganda: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: Over two million children and adolescents suffer from chronic kidney disease globally. Early childhood insults such as birth asphyxia could be risk factors for development of chronic kidney disease in infancy. Our study aimed to assess renal function among children aged two to four years, born to women with obstructed labour. METHODS: We followed up 144 children aged two to four years, born to women with obstructed labor at Mbale regional referral hospital in Eastern Uganda. We used estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by the Schwartz formula to calculate eGFR (0.413*height)/ serum creatinine as a measure of renal function. eGFR less than 90 ml/min/1.73m(2) was classified as decreased renal function. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 2.8 years, standard deviation (SD) of 0.4 years. Majority of the children were male (96/144: 66.7%). The mean umbilical lactate level at birth among the study participants was 8.9 mmol/L with a standard deviation (SD) of 5.0. eGFR values ranged from 55 to 163ml/min/1.72m(2), mean 85.8 ± SD 15.9. One third (31.3%) 45/144 had normal eGFR (> 90 ml/Min/1.72m(2)), two thirds (67.4%) 97/144 had a mild decrease of eGFR (60–89 ml/Min/1.72m(2)), and only 2/144 (1.4%) had a moderate decrease of eGFR. Overall incidence of reduced eGFR was 68.8% (99/144). CONCLUSION: We observed a high incidence of impaired renal function among children born to women with obstructed labour. We recommend routine follow up of children born to women with obstructed labour and add our voices to those calling for improved intra-partum and peripartum care.