Association between weight status, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease among middle-aged and elderly Chinese.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity often initiates or coexists with certain metabolic abnormalities. This study sought to examine the independent and joint relations of weight and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Chinese elderly people.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

A total of 15,229 participants (mean age: 62.8 years) from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort with complete baseline questionnaire and medical examination data were followed from 2008 to 2010 to 2013. All participants were categorized into four phenotypes: metabolically healthy non-overweight/obesity (MHNO), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy non-overweight/obesity (MUNO), metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of four phenotypes with the risk of incident CKD, which was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. A total of 1151 CKD cases were identified during a mean of 4.6-year follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, both overweight/obesity and MetS were associated with higher risk of CKD, and the ORs (95% CI) were 1.32 (1.15-1.52) and 1.50 (1.31-1.73), respectively. The risk of CKD was progressively higher in MHO (1.31, 1.09-1.57), MUNO (1.54, 1.22-1.93), and MUO (2.05, 1.73-2.42) as compared with MHNO phenotype, without significant multiplicative interaction between overweight/obesity and MetS (Pinteraction = 0.906). These associations were slightly stronger among those aged >60 years or with baseline diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Both overweight/obesity and MetS were associated with an increased risk of CKD. It is worth noting that MHO and MUNO also have an elevated risk. Maintaining both normal weight and healthy metabolic profile is recommended.