Prevalence and determinants of chronic kidney disease among HIV/AIDS patients in selected governmental hospitals at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The burden of noncommunicable diseases, particularly kidney dysfunction, is increasingly common among HIV/AIDS patients, especially with the improved life expectancy resulting from the advent of antiretroviral therapy. However, there are limited data on the prevalence and determinants of chronic kidney disease in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of chronic kidney disease among HIV/AIDS patients at two government hospitals in Ethiopia in 2024. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 adult HIV/AIDS patients, selected via systematic random sampling techniques with a sampling frame, at two governmental hospitals at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The data were collected via the kobo tool box software, and the analysis was performed via Stata software version 17. Variables with a p-value of ≤  0.2 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression model, and variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 in the final model were considered statistically significant. Results Among the 422 participants, 54 (12.8%) were excluded for having inadequate kidney function determination and 368 participants were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in this study was 59 (16.03%). Those individuals with higher education (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39–0.93) and self-employed status (AOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.33–0.98) were less likely to have chronic kidney disease. Age > 64 years was (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.05–8.57), antiretroviral therapy duration > 20 years was (AOR = 5.84, 95% CI: 3.77–14.53), being widowed was (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04–3.88), and diarrheal disease in the study period of (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06–3.27) times was significantly associated with the occurrence of chronic kidney disease. Conclusions The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in this study was relatively high compared to national and regional estimates. Significant factors associated with chronic kidney disease included older age, longer duration on antiretroviral therapy, history of diarrheal disease, being widowed, higher educational status, and self-employment. These findings highlight the need for the integration of routine kidney function screening into HIV care services to support early detection and management of chronic kidney disease in this population. Clinical trial number Not applicable.