Association of non-allopathic drugs and dietary factors with chronic kidney disease: A matched case–control study in South India

BACKGROUND: The multifactorial etiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to vary with geographical region. Although diabetes and hypertension are the major known contributors for CKD, the role of other risk factors relevant to India needs to be explored. This study was done to find out the role of dietary factors and nonallopathic drugs in CKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based individual pair-matched case–control study was conducted in a tertiary care center in South India. The sample included 80 incident cases of CKD matched with 80 controls. Factors assessed in the study include sociodemographic factors, medical history, dietary factors, nonallopathic drugs, substance use, and other possible confounders. Univariate analysis was performed using McNemar's test and multivariate analysis was done using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, lifetime exposure to nonallopathic drugs increased risk of CKD by approximately five times [odds ratio (OR): 5.15, confidence interval (CI): 1.27–20.87] and chicken intake (two to three times a month to once a week) had an increased risk by approximately four times (OR = 4.23, CI: 1.13–15.80). Fish intake at a frequency of two to three times or more reduced the risk of CKD by 94% (OR = 0.06, CI: 0.01–0.43). CONCLUSION: Chicken intake and lifetime exposure to nonallopathic drugs could increase risk for CKD in South India. Increased fish intake was found to be protective for CKD.