Epidemiological Characteristics of Children with Nephrotic Syndrome Referred to Amir-Kabir Hospital in Arak, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction. Nephrotic syndrome is one of the most common 
glomerular diseases in childhood and is associated with 
significant morbidity and healthcare burden. Understanding 
its epidemiological and clinical characteristics is essential for 
improving patient management and outcomes. To investigate 
the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of 
children diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome referred to Amir
Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran.
Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 children 
diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. Participants were enrolled 
using a census sampling method. Demographic, socioeconomic, 
perinatal, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from medical 
records and structured interviews. Data were analyzed using 
SPSS version 21 and presented as mean ± standard deviation, 
frequency, and percentage.
Results. Among the 100 patients, 51% were male and 49% were 
female. The mean age was 7.87 ± 3.12 years. Preterm birth was 
reported in 53% of patients. Hypoalbuminemia (< 2.5 g/dL) 
was observed in all patients, while hypercholesterolemia (> 350 
mg/dL) was present in 69%. Prerenal azotemia, microscopic 
hematuria, urinary tract infection, allergy, and hyponatremia 
were observed in 56, 54, 38, 42, and 55% of patients; respectively. 
Periorbital edema was the most common clinical presentation 
(43%). Maternal risk factors included preeclampsia (38%), diabetes 
(52%), and hypertension (45%).
Conclusions. Children with nephrotic syndrome demonstrated a 
high prevalence of metabolic abnormalities, edema, and maternal 
prenatal risk factors. Early recognition of these characteristics 
may improve disease management and prognosis.