Relationship between dyslipidemia and the risk of developing end-stage renal disease in a screened cohort

Disturbances in lipid metabolism are often observed in patients with renal failure and could be a risk factor for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, few studies have examined abnormal lipid metabolism as a risk factor for the development of ESRD in the general population.

We examined the cumulative incidence of ESRD based on the results of a community-based mass screening in Okinawa, Japan, which was conducted in 1993 by the Okinawa General Health Maintenance Association. Screenees who developed ESRD by the end of 2000 were identified through the Okinawa Dialysis Study registry.

Total cholesterol (TC) data were available for 133,338 (92.6%) of the total 143,948 screenees) and triglyceride (TG) data were available for 132,094 (91.8%). Dyslipidemia was defined as TC > or = 220 mg/dl or TG > or = 150 mg/dl. The cumulative incidences of ESRD, per 1000 screenees, were 1.12 for those without dyslipidemia and 2.53 for those with dyslipidemia. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for dyslipidemia was 0.856 (0.484-1.516) for men and 1.260 (0.661-2.400) for women; neither was significant when adjustment was made for age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, creatinine clearance, diabetes mellitus, and proteinuria.

The present study showed dyslipidemia to be an insignificant predictor of development of ESRD in the general Okinawa population.