International Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders(IJDMD)
ISSN: 2475-5451 | DOI: 10.33140/IJDMD
Impact Factor: 1.23
Occupational Determinants of Chronic Kidney Disease and Their Effect on Work Activity: A Hospital-Based Study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract
Yetemwerk Dagmawi, Abera Kumie and Samson Wakuma Abaya
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a growing global public health challenge. While diabetes, hypertension, and genetic predispositions are well-established causes, occupational and environmental exposures are emerging as under-recognized contributors to CKD. In low-resource settings, these occupational risk factors remain poorly characterized, despite their potential impact on disease progression and work-related functioning.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2025 among CKD patients attending Black Lion Referral Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 392 participants were enrolled through consecutive sampling. Data on occupational exposures were collected via structured face-to-face interviews. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire was utilized to evaluate the impact of CKD on work productivity and daily activities.
Results: Of the 392 participants, the largest age group was 61 years and older (24.5%). The most common occupations were office work (21.2%) and farmers (14.8%). Exposure to physical occupational hazards was reported by 74.7% of participants, followed by psychosocial (57.7%) and chemical hazards (27.3%). Based on the WPAI findings, CKD led to an average absenteeism rate of 28.1%. Additionally, 54.7% of participants (n = 165) experienced presenteeism, resulting in an overall work productivity loss in 70.3% of the sample.
Conclusions: Occupational exposures to physical, chemical, and psychosocial hazards are prevalent among individuals with CKD and contribute significantly to reduced work productivity and activity impairment. These findings underscore the need for occupational health interventions and policy attention in the prevention and management of CKD in working populations.