Obesity and its relation to chronic kidney disease: a population-based, cross-sectional study of a Thai army

Bancha Satirapoj1, Ouppatham Supasyndh, Natee Mayteedol

  • 1Division of Nephrology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand. satirapoj@yahoo.com

Insights

Overweight and obesity are significantly linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Thai adults. Higher body mass index (BMI) increases CKD risk, independent of other health factors.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nephrology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Obesity is a growing concern, particularly in individuals with cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Understanding the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and CKD is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a Thai population.
  • To determine if overweight and obesity are risk factors for CKD in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A general health screening was conducted on a large cohort of Thai individuals.
  • Body mass index (BMI) was categorized (overweight, weight at risk, obese I, obese II), and abdominal obesity was defined by waist circumference.
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was identified by a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m², estimated using the MDRD equation.

Main Results:

  • The study included 12,348 males and 3,009 females, with a 7.5% prevalence of CKD.
  • Individuals with CKD had significantly higher mean BMIs and higher prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity compared to those without CKD.
  • Multivariate analysis revealed that weight at risk, obese I, and obese II were significantly associated with CKD.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obesity are independently associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Thai army population.
  • These findings highlight the importance of weight management in preventing CKD.
  • The association between obesity and CKD was observed independently of other common risk factors like blood pressure and glucose levels.
Abstract

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