The number of metabolic syndrome components is a good risk indicator for both early- and late-stage kidney damage

Renal hyperfiltration (early-stage kidney damage) and hypofiltration (late-stage kidney damage) are common in populations at high risk of chronic kidney disease. This study investigated the associations of renal hyperfiltration and hypofiltration with the number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components.

The study subjects included 205,382 people aged 40-74 years who underwent Specific Health Checkups in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The prevalence of renal hyperfiltration [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) above the age-/sex-specific 95th percentile] and hypofiltration (eGFR below the 5th percentile) was compared according to the number of MetS components. We found that the prevalence of both hyperfiltration and hypofiltration increased with increasing number of MetS components (odds ratios for hyperfiltration: 1.20, 1.40, 1.42, 1.41, and 1.77; odds ratios for hypofiltration: 1.07, 1.25, 1.57, 1.89, and 2.21 for one, two, three, four, and five components, respectively, compared with no MetS components). These associations were observed in both normal weight [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m(2)] and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) subjects. Renal hyperfiltration was associated with prehypertension and prediabetes, while hypofiltration was associated with dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, overt hypertension, and overt diabetes.

The number of MetS components is a good risk indicator of early- and late-stage kidney damage. Therefore, kidney function should be monitored in subjects with MetS components. MetS components should be treated as early as possible to prevent the development of kidney damage and cardiovascular diseases in people with hyperfiltration, regardless of their body weight.