Introduction Kidney Disease is a major health problem among productive age group. The purpose of this study was to explore the risk of mining worker to have Impaired Kidney Function.

Methods A comparative cross sectional study was conducted to examine the secondary data of 2016 annual medical examination results of 5634 workers from six various industries in Indonesia. The data subjects consisted of 90 of them who were considered Impaired Kidney Function (IKF) compared with 450 data subjects were randomly chosen from those who were normal serum creatinine. Those who have serum creatinine (SCr) level >1.2 mg/dL and >0.9 mg/dL for male and female respectively were categorised as IKF. Logistic regression analysis was used and the risk of mining workers to have IKF were calculated using Odds Ratios and adjusted by individual risk factors (age, hypertension, obesity, history of diabetes, history of kidney disease) as well as with occupational risk factors (type of task, chemical exposure, and heat exposure).

Result This study analysed 540 workers (32.4 years+8.5). No significant associations were observed between outcome and medical history of diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical exercise, as well as chemical exposure history. Risk factors associated with IKF were identified including work in mining sector (OR 6.4, 95% CI: 4.0 to 10.3), obesity (OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5 to 4.0), grade II hypertension (OR 3.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 13.2), history of kidney disease (OR 9.7, 95% CI: 1.5 to 60.9) respectively having been adjusted by age group and working activity.

Discussion Miners appear to be more susceptible of developing IKF rather than other manufacturing workers. Further research is needed to explain the role of specific occupational exposures in kidney impairment among miners.