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The Epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Mesoamerica: A Call for Interdisciplinary Research and Action.

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Author

  • Catharina Wesseling
  • Jennifer Crowe
  • Christer Hogstedt
  • Kristina Jakobsson
  • Rebekah Lucas
  • David H Wegman

Summary, in English

During the last 20 years, several regions in Central America and Mexico have seen a dramatic increase of a rapidly progressive chronic kidney disease, unexplained by diabetes and hypertension.(1-3) This regional epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) is also being referred to as the Mesoamerican nephropathy or MeN.(4) It has been estimated that this largely unknown epidemic has caused the premature death of at least 20 000 men.(3) In MeN-affected areas in Nicaragua(3) and Costa Rica (C. W., unpublished data), chronic kidney disease mortality is up to five-fold the national rates. In El Salvador, kidney disease was the second most common cause of death among males in 2009.(5) MeN primarily, but not only, affects young and middle-aged male laborers in the agricultural sector, in particular sugarcane workers.(1-3) (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 12, 2013: e1-e4. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301594).

Publishing year

2013

Language

English

Pages

1927-1930

Publication/Series

American Journal of Public Health

Volume

103

Issue

11

Document type

Journal article (comment)

Publisher

Amer Public Health Assoc Inc

Topic

  • Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1541-0048