Effects of daily alcohol intake on glomerular filtration rate over three years

The association between daily alcohol intake and changes in renal function in the Japanese general population is not well established.

We analyzed data from 150 residents who underwent specific health checkups held in Mishima Town in 2016 and 2019. We divided participants on the basis of alcohol consumption: residents with daily alcohol intake of < 20 g/day (the none-to-low group, n = 104, 69.3%); those with daily alcohol intake of ≥ 20 but < 40 g/day (the intermediate group, n = 30, 20.0%); and those with daily alcohol intake of ≥ 40 g/day (the high group, n = 16, 10.7%). We compared baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint was a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), defined as the decrease in eGFR greater than the median decrease over three years.

The three-year changes in eGFR were +0.3 (-4.8, +3.0), -2.3 (-5.1, +1.2), and -4.9 (-8.2, -2.9) mL/min/1.73 m² in the none-to-low, intermediate, and high groups, respectively (P = 0.007). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a high amount of alcohol intake was independently associated with a decrease in eGFR, with adjusted odds ratio of 11.418 (95% confidence interval 1.554-83.879, P = 0.017).

A high average daily alcohol intake is associated with a decrease in eGFR.