Assessment of the Effect of Acute Malaria on Some Renal Function Parameters amongst Port Harcourt Residents, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: To assess some kidney function parameters in Port Harcourt residents with varying malaria parasite densities.

Study Design: Observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, between September and December 2023.

Methodology: The study population comprised of one hundred (100) individuals within the ages of 21-60 years randomly sampled within Port Harcourt metropolis. A total of seventy apparently (70) healthy subjects, which comprised of 32 males and 38 females who served as control and a total of thirty (30) malaria infected subjects, which comprised of 16 males and 14 females were sampled and served as test subjects. Data was obtained from subjects using a questionnaire to obtain consent and socio-demographic information. Blood samples were collected via venipuncture and analyzed for malaria using thick and thin blood films and also estimated for serum urea, creatinine and electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Bicarbonate). Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad prism Version 10 for Windows and results were presented as mean ± STD and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: There were more males with malaria in this study (n=17) than females (n=14) but was not statistically significant. Age group 21-30 years had more malaria cases (17 cases) compared to age groups 31-40 years (4 cases), 41-50 years (3 cases), 51-60 years (6 cases), but this was not statistically significant. Urea and creatinine levels were higher in malaria-infected (test) subjects, than the control group, but there was no significant difference statistically. Na+ and K+ levels were significantly decreased in test subjects than in the control subjects and were considered statistically significant. Cl- levels showed a decrease in test subjects when compared to the control and HCO3- levels showed an increase in test subjects when compared to the control but were also not statistically significant. Pearson’s correlation analysis was also carried out on malaria-infected subjects and there were strong correlations between urea and creatinine (>0.5) but was not statistically significant. Na+ and K+ also revealed a weak correlation but were statistically significant.

Conclusion: The study showed that varying malaria parasite densities lead to an increase and decrease in some kidney function parameters and severe malaria can lead to hyponatremia and hypokalemia leading to renal impairment.