José Encarnación
Carlos Pérez Morales
Paola Rivera
Oscar A. Lugo Capera, MSc

Universidad Central del Caribe

Introduction

The relationship between renal disease and mortality during emergency periods is understudied, particularly in Puerto Rico. The impact of emergency events, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, disrupt healthcare systems and exacerbate chronic conditions, ultimately leading to higher mortality rates. This research seeks to assess the role of renal disease in mortality trends and understand its broader implications on the health of Puerto Rican populations.

Methods

This scientific research analyzed mortality data from acute kidney disease (AKD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) collected monthly between 2015 and 2023, provided by the Puerto Rico Registry of Demography and Vital Statistics. Statistical significance was determined by performing an analysis of temporal series, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and generalized linear models (GLM).

Results

Mortality data for AKD, CKD, and their combined outcomes were evaluated using a two-way ANOVA, considering the effects of Year, Age, Month, and Gender. Interactions between Year and Month, Year and Age, and Year and Gender were also assessed. Across all three causes of mortality, significant differences were observed concerning the variable of Year (p < 0.05). However, for CKD, Month did not show a significant effect (p > 0.05), indicating no substantial monthly variation in CKD-related deaths. A generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution was implemented, incorporating the same variables (Year, Month of Death, Gender, and Age). This model demonstrated statistical significance, further supporting the observed trends in mortality data.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate a significant difference in mortality trends when analyzing Year for acute and chronic kidney disease from 2015 to 2023.

IRB Approval Number

#2024-48