Assessment of the prevalence of urinary system anomalies in the Trakya Region

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) constitute one of the most common groups of congenital anomalies in childhood and represent a significant public health problem due to their potential progression to chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and subtype distribution of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract in the pediatric population aged 0–18 years in the Trakya Region (Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and Gelibolu). This retrospective study was conducted between 2022 and 2024. A total of 23,011 pediatric radiology reports obtained from the radiology information systems of regional hospitals were reviewed. Reports were standardized using a natural language processing–based classification algorithm and subsequently verified and labeled through expert clinical review. Analyses were performed according to age groups, sex, and province. Population data from the Turkish Statistical Institute were used as denominators for prevalence calculations, and results were expressed per 100,000 children. Of the reviewed reports, 22,538 (97.9%) were deemed classifiable, and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract was identified in 4,035 cases (17.9%). The three-year average prevalence was calculated as 291.6 per 100,000 children, with a higher prevalence observed in males than in females (male-to-female ratio: 1.36). Hydronephrosis was the most frequently detected subtype across all age groups, followed by renal agenesis, renal hypoplasia, and ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Coexisting congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract anomalies were present in 19.6% of cases, with the most common combination being hydronephrosis and ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Age-specific analyses demonstrated the highest prevalence in the 0–1 year age group (1224.3 per 100,000), which was significantly higher than that of the overall pediatric population (p <0.001). Province-based analyses revealed differences in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract prevalence among Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and Gelibolu. Edirne exhibited a notably higher prevalence (980.7 per 100,000), which was interpreted in relation to its status as a regional pediatric nephrology referral center. This study provides comprehensive regional data delineating the epidemiological burden of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract in the pediatric population of the Trakya Region. Keywords: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, prevalence, child, radiological epidemiology, Trakya Region.