Baseline and Follow-Up Association between Adiposity and Renal Function: Data from the ILERVAS Cohort

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Obesity is a growing global health issue linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Previous studies suggest a connection between body fat and kidney dysfunction, but long-term effects are unclear.
• This research investigates adiposity's impact on kidney function and CKD progression in individuals without diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between baseline adiposity (BMI and body fat percentage) and kidney function.
• To determine if adiposity predicts CKD outcomes over four years.
• To evaluate these associations in a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk population without diabetes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 8,153 participants from the ILERVAS project.
• Adiposity measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) and estimated body fat percentage.
• Renal function assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).
• Four-year follow-up for a subset of 3,222 individuals.

Main Results:

• CKD prevalence was 15.1%, higher in obese individuals.
• Body fat percentage correlated more strongly with eGFR than BMI.
• Higher baseline body fat percentage and its increase over time were linked to eGFR decline.
• Adiposity measures did not independently predict CKD presence or albuminuria.

Conclusions:

• Elevated total body fat is associated with poorer kidney function and progression.
• Body fat assessment offers valuable insights beyond BMI for CKD prevention.
• These findings highlight the importance of body composition in managing kidney health.