Risk factors for renal function decline in adults with normal kidney function: a 7-year cohort study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Investigating risk factors for renal function decline (RFD) in a rural Chinese population with normal kidney function (eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m²).
• Stratifying risk factor analysis by sex to identify specific vulnerabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key risk factors associated with renal function decline (RFD) in a community-based cohort.
• To determine if risk factors differ between men and women in this population.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2518 participants from a rural Chinese cohort.
• RFD defined by eGFR category drop with ≥25% eGFR decrease or sustained decline >5 mL/min/1.73 m²/year.
• Multivariable logistic regression used to identify significant risk factors.

Main Results:

• Overall RFD incidence was 8.7% (men 9.8%, women 7.4%).
• Men showed higher RFD risk with obesity (OR=1.51) and specific risk factors including prehypertension, hypertension, higher blood pressure, higher pulse pressure, low HDL cholesterol, and low physical activity.
• Women showed higher RFD risk with current smoking (OR=3.22) and worse self-reported health (OR=2.57).

Conclusions:

• Risk factors for renal function decline (RFD) differ significantly between men and women in this rural Chinese population.
• Sex-specific prevention strategies are crucial for mitigating RFD in individuals with normal kidney function.