SAT-208 High prevalence of chronic kidney disease among Cocoa Farmers in Cameroon, a possible contribution of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu)

Abstract

Data on the burden of chronic kidney disease(CKD) in agricultural workers has largely been derived from sugarcane and rice farmers in Central America and South-East Asia; with an ill-defined form of chronic interstitial nephritis known as chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology(CKDu) accounting for most cases. There is sparse data on CKD in agricultural workers in tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa where farming constitutes a major occupation and cocoa is a major cash crop. Cocoa grows preferentially in hot tropical climate thus exposing the farmers to heat stress.