Physical Activity Patterns and Kidney Function Changes Among Hispanic/Latino Adults: The Hispanic Community Health...

Physical activity (PA) may be a modifiable factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevention, but evidence specific to Hispanic/Latino populations is limited. Our objective was to examine associations between PA type/volume with changes in kidney function among Hispanic/Latino adults.

We included participants (mean age: 41.6 years, 55.2% women) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos with complete data. PA was measured using both 7-day accelerometry and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Primary outcomes were percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and percent change in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio over a mean of 6.1 years (N = 7071); incident CKD was the secondary outcome (N = 7177).

The mean eGFR change was -3.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, and mean urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio change was 4.0 mg/g. In multivariable-adjusted models accounting for demographic, occupational, and clinical factors, neither accelerometer-measured light PA or moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) nor self-reported MVPA were significantly associated with changes in eGFR, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or incident CKD (P > .05). Diabetes status significantly modified associations between eGFR percent change and accelerometer-measured light PA (interaction P < .01), MVPA (interaction P = .02), and self-reported total MVPA (interaction P = .03). Among individuals with diabetes, higher self-reported total MVPA was associated with higher eGFR change (0.12% per 15 min/d; 95% CI, 0.02-0.22), whereas greater accelerometer-measured MVPA was linked to higher CKD risk (incidence rate ratio: 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02-1.23). Among those without diabetes, associations were inverse with 95% CIs that overlapped the null.

PA types/volumes were not associated with kidney function decline or CKD incidence, though diabetes status may modify these relationships.