Disease Severity and Treatment Outcomes of Patients Presenting at The Renal Clinic of The Ho Teaching Hospital in The Volta Region of Ghana: A Retrospective Review (2021-2024)

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a growing public health burden globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Ghana, data on the severity of disease at presentation and treatment outcomes remain limited. The study aimed to evaluate the patterns of disease severity, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes among patients with CKD at the renal clinic of the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region of Ghana from 2021 to 2024 Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records from the Renal Clinic of Ho Teaching Hospital between January 2021 and December 2024. Out of 2,000 records screened, 1,520 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from the Lightwave Health Information Management System and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics summarized patient characteristics, disease severity, and treatment modalities. Multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of survival among CKD patients. Results: Most patients presented at advanced stages, with 36.6% at Stage 5 and 28.4% at Stage 4. Frequent symptoms included hypertension (59.7%), fatigue (55.3%), and edema (47.4%). Hypertension (83.6%) and diabetes (71.1%) were the most common comorbidities. Use of nephrotoxic agents was high, with NSAIDs (88.8%) and herbal medicines (72%) widely reported. Treatment was almost equally split between hemodialysis (50.66%) and conservative care (49.34%), though many dialysis patients received fewer than the recommended sessions. Survival was 90.66%, but complications were common. Stage 5 CKD (AOR = 0.28, p = 0.002) and cardiovascular complications (AOR = 0.42, p = 0.018) predicted lower survival. Being married (AOR = 0.50, p = 0.007) and employed (AOR = 0.62, p = 0.041) were associated with improved survival. Conclusion: The findings underscore a need for earlier diagnosis, public education, and expanded access to renal care. Strengthening screening and preventive strategies is critical to improving long-term outcomes in CKD patients in Ghana.