Objective To analyze the pathological types and epidemiological characteristics of Yi nationality population undergoing renal biopsy in Liangshan prefecture.

Methods The pathological files of renal biopsy patients of Yi nationality population in Liangshan prefecture were retrospectively selected, and their pathological types and epidemiological characteristics were analyzed.

Results A total of 437 patients with a male to female ratio of 1 to 1.47 were included. There were 308 cases (70.48%) of primary glomerular disease and 129 cases (29.52%) of secondary glomerular disease. The main primary glomerular diseases were membranous nephropathy (18.76%), IgA nephropathy (17.39%), glomerular minimal change disease (17.39%) as well as mesangial proliferative nephritis (11.45%), and the main secondary glomerular disease was purpura nephritis (22.88%). The proportion of primary glomerular disease in male patients was significantly lower than that in female patients, and the proportion of secondary glomerular disease in the male patients was significantly higher than that in the female patients (P < 0.05); the incidence of IgA nephropathy in the male patients was significantly lower than that in the female patients, and the incidence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in the male patients was significantly higher than that in the female patients (P < 0.05). The high incidence ages of membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, glomerular minimal change disease and purpura nephritis were 31 to 60 years old, 31 to 50 years old, 21 to 50 years old and ≤20 years old, respectively. From 2019 to 2022, the detection rate of primary glomerular disease showed a significant decrease trend, while the detection rate of secondary glomerular disease significantly increased (P < 0.05). The detection rate of membranous nephropathy increased significantly from 6.10% in 2019 to 27.27% in 2022, and the detection rate of IgA nephropathy decreased significantly from 29.27% in 2019 to 9.09% in 2022 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Primary nephropathy is the main pathogeny among Yi nationality population undergoing renal biopsy in Liangshan prefecture, and membranous nephropathy accounts for the highest proportion, and purpura nephritis accounts for the highest proportion in secondary nephropathy.