Symptom analysis of patients with impaired renal function in the critical care units of selected tertiary care hospital of Udupi district, Karnataka state

Chronic renal failure is a major worldwide health problem. An explorative survey was conducted to identify the renal impairment and symptoms experienced by the patients in critical care units of selected tertiary care hospital of Udupi District, Karnataka State with aim to identify the symptoms experienced by the patient, rank the symptoms experienced by the patient and also to classify the patients with impaired renal function according to Cockcroft and Gault method. Research instruments used were Renal Assessment Tool and also the laboratory investigations. Study finding revealed that most of the subjects belongs to the group age group 61 - 70 (46%) and majority of the subjects had primary education (53.33%). About 43% of the patient with impaired renal function had diabetes mellitus and 23% of patient were hypertensive. Sixty six point seven of the patients had oliguria, only 6.67% of patient was presented with anuria. Among them 53.33% of patients had exertional dyspnea and most of the patients 86.66% experienced fatigue, majority of the patients, 33.37% had anemia. Also 23.33% of them had muscle pain, 66.67% were ambulatory, and 33.33% of patients had nausea, vomiting and anorexia. All of the patients were conscious, 80 % of them were lethargic, and 50% of them had decreased attention span. Based on GFR and status of renal impairment according to Cockcraft and Gault method, 10% of the patient belong to Stage I, Stage II (26.67), stage III (36.63), Stage IV (16.67%), and Stage V (10%) of impaired renal function.