Factors associated with CKD in the elderly and nonelderly population

The risk factors for CKD in different age groups remain unknown. This community-based study aimed to identify the risk factors for CKD in elderly and nonelderly patients.

A multistage sampling survey for CKD was conducted in 2007 in Kaohsiung County, an area with the highest prevalence of dialysis in the world. CKD was defined as proteinuria in at least the microalbuminuric stage or an estimated GFR (eGFR) of <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). The factors for CKD in elderly and nonelderly patient groups were identified (with age 60 years as a cutoff value).

The analyses included 3352 participants, of whom 687 had CKD. The weighted prevalence of CKD was 19.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.0%-20.7%). Elderly patients typically presented with low eGFR and nonelderly patients, with proteinuria. Age, annual income, use of oral analgesics, metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia, and hemoglobin were risk factors for CKD in both age groups. In elderly patients, risk factors were medical history of diabetes mellitus, CKD, stroke, and not using analgesic injection (odds ratios [95% CIs], 3.58 [2.06-6.22], 3.66 [1.58-8.43], 3.89 [1.09-13.87], 2.27 [1.21-4.17], respectively). In nonelderly patients, associated risk factors for CKD were gout, hepatitis B virus infection, and use of the Chinese herbal medicine Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (odds ratios [95% CIs], 3.15 [1.96-5.07], 1.66 [1.09-2.53], and 8.86 [1.73-45.45], respectively).

The risk factors for CKD vary by age.