Mild chronic kidney disease and its relation to functional disability in Korean elderly population

Studies have demonstrated that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is significantly associated with the increased risk of functional difficulty in daily activity and mobility. However, data are less available for association between CKD and functional disability in Asians.

Using a data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, we investigated the association of CKD with functional disability in 882 subjects over the age of 65. Disability was identified in activity of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), and visual, hearing, and walking function. The prevalence of disability was evaluated according to the stage of CKD, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) [adjusted ORs (95% CI)] of CKD stage 3a for disability in ADL, IADL, visual, hearing, and walking function.

Individuals with CKD stage 3-4 had the higher prevalence of disability ADL, IADL, visual, hearing, and walking function than individuals without CKD. CKD stage 3a was significantly associated with abnormal ADL [1.63 (1.04-2.54)] and visual impairment [1.39 (1.01-1.93)] even after adjusting for DM, hypertension, education, income, marital status, age, and sex.

The presence of mild CKD was significantly associated with disability in daily activity and multiple function.