ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO1035

Analysis of the Relationship between Body Mass Index and Kidney Function Decline in a Middle-Aged Japanese Population

Session Information

Category: CKD (Non-Dialysis)

  • 2301 CKD (Non-Dialysis): Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Authors

  • Nakamura, Miki, Gunma Daigaku Daigakuin Igakukei Kenkyuka Igakubu, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
  • Yamazaki, Chiho, Gunma Daigaku Daigakuin Igakukei Kenkyuka Igakubu, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
  • Hiromura, Keiju, Gunma Daigaku Daigakuin Igakukei Kenkyuka Igakubu, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
  • Hamazaki, Kei, Gunma Daigaku Daigakuin Igakukei Kenkyuka Igakubu, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
Background

The number of dialysis patients in Japan is increasing every year. In patients with chronic kidney disease, both obesity and underweight are reported to be risks for renal function decline. On the other hand, in the general population, obesity is a risk factor, but the relationship between underweight and renal function decline has not been well studied. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI), especially underweight, and renal function decline using health checkup data from Gunma prefecture, Japan.

Methods

We studied National Health Insurance beneficiaries aged 40 to 74 in Gunma who underwent health checkups in FY 2018 and 2020 and had usable estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and BMI data. We excluded those who self-reported receiving dialysis or had a BMI < 14 kg/m2 or ≥ 40 kg/m2. The outcome was defined as an eGFR decline rate of ≥ 30% over 2 years. Baseline BMI was classified into 7 categories, and odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by logistic regression analysis.

Results

64,970 individuals were included in the analysis. In a model adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, and lipid profile, BMI and renal function decline showed an inverse J-shaped relationship, with underweight (BMI = 14.0-18.9 kg/m2, OR [95% CI] 2.27 [1.55-3.31]) posing a higher risk of renal function decline compared to obesity (BMI = 30.0-39.9 kg/m2, OR [95% CI] 1.95 [1.24-3.09]). Similar trends were seen across subgroups by sex, age, urinary protein presence, baseline eGFR, and diabetes, especially among those with negative urinary protein and non-diabetic status.

Conclusion

In the middle-aged and elderly general population, both obesity and underweight were shown to be risk factors for renal function decline.To prevent the need for dialysis, intervention is necessary for underweight groups who are not targeted for health guidance.