Diagnosis of nephrosclerosis in autopsied deceased

Introduction: Nephrosclerosis occurs due to damage to the glomerular microvasculature. Vascular damage at the glomerular level reduces its functional capacity and the damage is accelerated due to high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, obesity and other causes of kidney damage. Objective: To identify the histopathological diagnosis of nephrosclerosis and describe characteristics of autopsied deceased with this entity. Methods: 135,449 autopsied deceased in Cuba, aged 15 or over, between 1963 and 2015 were analyzed, the histopathological diagnoses of nephrosclerosis were reviewed. The diagnoses of direct cause of death and basic cause of death were also specified, as well as their association with other entities. It was also analyzed: age, sex, histopathological diagnosis of nephrosclerosis, diagnoses of direct and basic cause of death, and association with other pathological entities. Results: There was a histopathological diagnosis of nephrosclerosis in 56,422 (40.2%), of them 91.8% were 55 years of age or older, 52.9% were male and 47.0% female. Bronchopneumonia (25.88%) was the main direct cause of death, atherosclerotic disorders and arterial hypertension were identified as the main basic causes of death. Conclusions: There was a high percentage of nephrosclerosis diagnoses in autopsied deceased in Cuba, in a period of 52 years. Male patients over 55 years of age predominated, as well as the association with basic atherosclerotic diseases and arterial hypertension.