Chronic kidney disease among adult participants of the ELSA-Brasil cohort: association with race and socioeconomic position

Association between leisure-time physical activity and arterial stiffness in adults of the ELSA-Brasil study: a mediation analysis

OBJECTIVES

We aimed at defining the direct and the mediated pathways for the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and also to identify whether these effects are influenced by sex and age.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 13 718 adults (35-74 years) were obtained at the baseline of the ELSA-Brasil study. The cf-PWV was obtained by measuring the pulse transit time and the distance traveled by the pulse between the carotid and the femoral, as well as clinical and anthropometric parameters were measured. The levels of LTPA were determined by applying the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

RESULTS

Classical cardiovascular risk factors were independently associated with cf-PWV. Path analysis showed that increased levels of LTPA were directly associated with lower cf-PWV in both men and women ( β : -0.123 ± 0.03 vs. 0.065 ± 0.029, P for sex = 0.165), except for diabetes. Also, the mediated effect of LTPA on SBP and DBPs, heart rate, BMI, and fasting glucose, was associated with lower cf-PWV in men and women ( β : -0.113 ± 0.016 vs. -0.104 ± 0.016, P for sex = 0.692), except for diabetes. When age was tested as a moderator, the direct effect did not change significantly according to participants' age, regardless of sex. However, the mediated effect increases in both men and women over 50 years.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support that LTPA in adults reduces cf-PWV by acting in different ways according to age. Physical activity in older individuals improves cardiometabolic risk factors and thus mitigates the stiffening of large arteries.

Racial inequalities in the development of multimorbidity of chronic conditions: results from a Brazilian prospective cohort

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of multimorbidity and its impacts have differentially affected population subgroups. Evidence on its incidence has mainly come from high-income regions, with limited exploration of racial disparities. This study investigated the association between racial groups and the development of multimorbidity and chronic conditions in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS

Data from self-reported white, brown (pardos or mixed-race), and black participants at baseline of ELSA-Brasil (2008-2010) who were at risk for multimorbidity were analysed. The development of chronic conditions was assessed through in-person visits and self-reported diagnosis via telephone until the third follow-up visit (2017-2019). Multimorbidity was defined when, at the follow-up visit, the participant had two or more morbidities. Cumulative incidences, incidence rates, and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using Poisson models.

RESULTS

Over an 8.3-year follow-up, compared to white participants: browns had a 27% greater incidence of hypertension and obesity; and blacks had a 62% and 45% greater incidence, respectively. Blacks also had 58% more diabetes. The cancer incidence was greater among whites. Multimorbidity affected 41% of the participants, with a crude incidence rate of 57.5 cases per 1000 person-years (ranging from 56.3 for whites to 63.9 for blacks). Adjusted estimates showed a 20% higher incidence of multimorbidity in black participants compared to white participants (IRR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05-1.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant racial disparities in the risk of chronic conditions and multimorbidity were observed. Many associations revealed a gradient increase in illness risk according to darker skin tones. Addressing fundamental causes such as racism and racial discrimination, alongside considering social determinants of health, is vital for comprehensive multimorbidity care. Intersectoral, equitable policies are essential for ensuring health rights for historically marginalized groups.

Performance of contemporary cardiovascular risk stratification scores in Brazil: an evaluation in the ELSA-Brasil study

AIMS

Despite notable population differences in high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), national guidelines in LMICs often recommend using US-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores for treatment decisions. We examined the performance of widely used international CVD risk scores within the largest Brazilian community-based cohort study (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS

All adults 40-75 years from ELSA-Brasil (2008-2013) without prior CVD who were followed for incident, adjudicated CVD events (fatal and non-fatal MI, stroke, or coronary heart disease death). We evaluated 5 scores-Framingham General Risk (FGR), Pooled Cohort Equations (PCEs), WHO CVD score, Globorisk-LAC and the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 score (SCORE-2). We assessed their discrimination using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration with predicted-to-observed risk (P/O) ratios-overall and by sex/race groups.

RESULTS

There were 12 155 individuals (53.0±8.2 years, 55.3% female) who suffered 149 incident CVD events. All scores had a model AUC>0.7 overall and for most age/sex groups, except for white women, where AUC was <0.6 for all scores, with higher overestimation in this subgroup. All risk scores overestimated CVD risk with 32%-170% overestimation across scores. PCE and FGR had the highest overestimation (P/O ratio: 2.74 (95% CI 2.42 to 3.06)) and 2.61 (95% CI 1.79 to 3.43)) and the recalibrated WHO score had the best calibration (P/O ratio: 1.32 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.48)).

CONCLUSION

In a large prospective cohort from Brazil, we found that widely accepted CVD risk scores overestimate risk by over twofold, and have poor risk discrimination particularly among Brazilian women. Our work highlights the value of risk stratification strategies tailored to the unique populations and risks of LMICs.

Salt Intake in Adults with Diabetes and Hypertension: The Longitudinal Study of Adult Health-Brasil Study

Background and Objective: Hypertension and type-2 diabetes are strong risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and their management requires lifestyle changes, including a shift in dietary habits. The consumption of salt has increased in the last decades in some countries, but its association with type-2 diabetes remains unknown. Thus, we aimed to estimate the amount of salt intake among adults with and without diabetes and to assess whether concomitant hypertension and diabetes are associated with higher salt intake. Methods: Data from 11,982 adults 35-74 years of age enrolled in the baseline of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health-Brasil study (2008-2010) were studied. A clinical and anthropometric evaluation was performed, and their daily salt intake was estimated by the overnight 12-hr urine sodium excretion. Results: Salt intake (gram per day) was higher in participants with diabetes as compared with those without diabetes, regardless of sex (men: 14.2 ± 6.4 vs. 12.4 ± 5.6, P < 0.05; women: 10.5 ± 4.8 vs. 9.1 ± 4.1, P < 0.05). However, salt intake is high in participants with fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5%, but not in participants with blood glucose 2 hr after the glucose tolerance test ≥200 mg/dL. When hypertension and diabetes coexisted, salt consumption was higher than among people without these conditions. The prevalence of hypertension increased with increasing salt intake in women with diabetes, but not in men with this condition. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the high consumption of salt in individuals with diabetes and/or hypertension, and the need for effective strategies to reduce salt consumption in these groups of increased risk for major cardiovascular events, especially in women.

Chronic Kidney Disease in Brazil: Current Status and Recommended Improvements

Background

Over the last 3 decades, over 700 million individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In a 2017 survey in southern Brazil, 11.4% of those surveyed had CKD. Early identification and effective therapy in Brazil may reduce CKD's impact. This panel discusses the early diagnosis and treatment of CKD and the barriers and actions needed to improve the management of CKD in Brazil. A panel of Brazilian nephrologists was provided with relevant questions to address before a multiday conference. During this meeting, each narrative was discussed and edited through several rounds until agreement on the relevant topics and recommendations was achieved.

Summary

Panelists highlighted hurdles to early diagnosis and treatment of CKD. These include, but are not limited to, a lack of public and patient education, updated recommendations, multidisciplinary CKD treatment, and a national CKD database. People-centered, physician-centered, and healthcare institution-centered actions can be taken to improve outcomes. Patient empowerment is needed via multiple channels of CKD education and access to health-monitoring wearables and apps. Primary care clinicians and nonspecialists must be trained to screen and manage CKD-causing illnesses, including diabetes and hypertension. The healthcare system may implement a national health data gathering system, more screening tests, automated test result reporting, and telehealth.

Key Messages

Increasing access to early diagnosis can provide a path to improving care for patients with CKD. Concerted efforts from all stakeholders are needed to overcome the barriers.

Laboratory-based surveillance of chronic kidney disease in people with private health coverage in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Although approximately 25% of Brazilians have private health coverage (PHC), studies on the surveillance of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in this population are scarce. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of CKD in individuals under two PHC regimes in Brazil, who total 8,335,724 beneficiaries.

METHODS

Outpatient serum creatinine and proteinuria results of individuals from all five regions of Brazil, ≥ 18 years of age, and performed between 10/01/2021 and 10/31/2022, were analyzed through the own laboratory network database. People with serum creatinine measurements were evaluated for the prevalence and staging of CKD, and those with simultaneous measurements of serum creatinine and proteinuria were evaluated for the risk category of the disease. CKD was classified according to current guidelines and was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² estimated by the 2021 CKD-EPI equation.

RESULTS

The number of adults with serum creatinine results was 1,508,766 (age 44.0 [IQR, 33.9-56.8] years, 62.3% female). The estimated prevalence of CKD was 3.8% (2.6%, 0.8%, 0.2% and 0.2% in CKD stages 3a, 3b, 4 and 5, respectively), and it was higher in males than females (4.0% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001, respectively) and in older age groups (0.2% among 18-29-year-olds, 0.5% among 30-44-year-olds, 2.0% among 45-59-year-olds, 9.4% among 60-74-year-olds, and 32.4% among ≥ 75-year-olds, p < 0.001) Adults with simultaneous results of creatinine and proteinuria were 64,178 (age 57.0 [IQR, 44.8-67.3] years, 58.1% female). After adjusting for age and gender, 70.1% were in the low-risk category of CKD, 20.0% were in the moderate-risk category, 5.8% were in the high-risk category, and 4.1% were in the very high-risk category.

CONCLUSION

The estimated prevalence of CKD was 3.8%, and approximately 10% of the participants were in the categories of high or very high-risk of the disease. While almost 20% of beneficiaries with PHC had serum creatinine data, fewer than 1% underwent tests for proteinuria. This study was one of the largest ever conducted in Brazil and the first one to use the 2021 CKD-EPI equation to estimate the prevalence of CKD.

Association between branched-chain amino acids and renal function in the ELSA-Brasil study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Epidemiologic studies show high circulating Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are associated with excess body weight, impaired fasting glucose, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. There is scarce data on the association between renal function and circulating levels of BCAA. Therefore, we aim to study this association in a sample of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adults (ELSA-Brasil) METHODS: We analyzed participants who had at the baseline BCAA: valine, isoleucine, and leucine measured through nuclear magnetic resonance. The outcomes evaluated were estimated glomerular function (eGFR - CKD-EPI without race) and 12h-albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). In addition, we built unadjusted and adjusted multivariable linear regression models to investigate the association between the BCAA (total and individual) and eGFR and ACR.

RESULTS

We studied 4912 participants (age 51.7(±9.0) years, 53.4% women, 59.5% White (59.5%), 32.7% hypertension, and 18.2% diabetes). The mean BCAA level was 429.15 ± 87.15. The mean eGFR was 84.95 ± 15 ml/min/1.73 m2, and the median ACR was 6.5 (1.8-4920) mg/g. Descriptive analyses comparing eGFR stratified <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and ACR≥30 mg/g demonstrate that BCAA levels are higher in patients with eGFR<60 and ACR ≥30. Regarding eGFR, an inverse association was detected with BCAA levels when adjusted for demographic variables, and it is not maintained after adjustments for other confounders. Also, a positive association was found for ACR≥30 mg/g, and BCAA levels, and this association is not confirmed after adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

BCAA levels were inversely associated with eGFR and positively associated with ACR. Further studies are necessary to allow the comprehension of those associations.

Occupational risks associated with chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt) in Brazil: it is time to dig deeper into a neglected problem

In the past decades, an epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with environmental and occupational factors (heat stress from high workloads in hot temperatures and exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides and metals), which has been termed CKD of non-traditional origin (CKDnt). This descriptive review aims to present recent evidence about heat stress, pesticides, and metals as possible causes of CKDnt and provide an overview of the related Brazilian regulation, enforcement, and health surveillance strategies. Brazilian workers are commonly exposed to extreme heat conditions and other CKDnt risk factors, including increasing exposure to pesticides and metals. Furthermore, there is a lack of adequate regulation (and enforcement), public policies, and strategies to protect the kidney health of workers, considering the main risk factors. CKDnt is likely to be a significant cause of CKD in Brazil, since CKD's etiology is unknown in many patients and several conditions for its development are present in the country. Further epidemiological studies may be conducted to explore causal associations and estimate the impact of heat, pesticides, and metals on CKDnt in Brazil. Moreover, public policies should prioritize reducing workers´ exposure and promoting their health and safety.

Cerqueira F, Menezes-Filho JA. A Cross-Sectional Analysis Investigating Pregnant Women's Renal Function and Its Association with Lead and Cadmium Exposures-The DSAN Birth Cohort Study in Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil

Kidney dysfunction is increasing worldwide and is exacerbated by exposure to toxic metals. Also, pregnancy poses an overload on kidney function. We investigated how blood lead (PbB) and cadmium (CdB) levels were associated with kidney function in pregnant women from Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil, during their second trimester. In this cross-sectional study, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated from serum creatinine and whole blood metal levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 136 volunteers. Sociodemographic data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The medians (IQR) of PbB, CdB, and eGFR were 0.85 µg/dL (0.45-1.75), 0.55 µg/L (0.08-0.91), and 121.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (106.0-127.9), respectively. PbB medians were significantly higher in the eGFR < 90 group at 2.00 µg/dL (0.83, 3.10). After age-adjusted logistic regression, pregnant women with elevated PbB levels had decreased eGFR (OR = 1.82; 95%-CI, 1.14-3.14). However, the participants with elevated PbB levels who reported consuming alcohol during pregnancy or had CdB in the highest tertile had higher odds of reduced eGFR (OR = 2.44; 95%-CI, 1.30-5.47) and (OR = 11.22; 95% CI, 2.53-103.51), respectively. These results suggest that low Pb exposure may affect kidney function in pregnant women and calls for further investigation into toxic metal co-exposures on kidney function during pregnancy in at-risk communities.

Higher Arterial Stiffness Predicts Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults: The ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Central Illustration : Higher Arterial Stiffness Predicts Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults: The ELSA-Brasil Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

Arterial stiffening can directly affect the kidneys, which are passively perfused by a high flow. However, whether the relation between arterial stiffness and renal function depends on diabetes and hypertension conditions, is a matter of debate.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between arterial stiffening by carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence in individuals and verify whether this association is present in individuals without hypertension and diabetes.

METHODS

A longitudinal study of 11,647 participants of the ELSA-Brasil followed up for four years (2008/10-2012/14). Baseline cfPWV was grouped per quartile, according to sex-specific cut-offs. Presence of CKD was ascertained by glomerular filtration rate (eGFR-CKD-EPI) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g. Logistic regression models were run for the whole cohort and a subsample free from hypertension and diabetes at baseline, after adjustment for age, sex, race, schooling, smoking, cholesterol/HDL ratio, body mass index, diabetes, use of antihypertensive, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiovascular disease. Statistical significance was set at 5%.

RESULTS

The chance of CKD was 42% (CI 95%: 1.05;1.92) greater among individuals in the upper quartile of cfPWV. Among normotensive, non-diabetic participants, individuals in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of cfPWV presented greater chances of developing CKD, as compared to those in the lower quartile, and the magnitude of this association was the greatest for those in the upper quartile (OR: 1.81 CI 95%: 1.14;2.86).

CONCLUSION

Higher cfPWV increased the chances of CKD and suggests that this effect is even greater in individuals without diabetes and hypertension.

Dynapenia and sarcopenia: association with the diagnosis, duration and complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus in ELSA-Brasil

Sarcopenia (the loss of muscle mass, strength and skeletal muscle function) increases mortality and the risk of hospitalization in the older population. Although it is known that older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a higher risk of dynapenia and sarcopenia, few studies have investigated these conditions in middle-aged populations. The objective of this study was to investigate whether T2DM, its duration, the presence of albuminuria, and glycemic control are associated with sarcopenia and its components in adults. The cross-sectional analysis was based on data from visit 2 of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (2012-2014). The 2018 European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria were used to define dynapenia, low appendicular muscle mass (LAMM), and sarcopenia (absent/probable/confirmed). The explanatory variables were: T2DM; duration of T2DM; T2DM according to the presence of albuminuria; and glycemic control (HbA1C < 7%) among people with T2DM. A total of 12,132 participants (mean age = 55.5, SD: 8.9 years) were included. The odds ratio for LAMM was greater among those with T2DM, T2DM duration from 5 to 10 years, and T2DM without albuminuria. Chances of dynapenia were higher among those with T2DM, T2DM duration > 10 years, and T2DM with and without albuminuria. The variables T2DM, T2DM ≥ 10 years, and T2DM with albuminuria increased the odds of probable sarcopenia, and T2DM duration from 5 to 10 years increased the odds of confirmed sarcopenia. The results support the importance of frequently monitoring the musculoskeletal mass and strength of individuals with T2DM to prevent sarcopenia and related outcomes.

Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Serum Urate Concentrations: A Longitudinal Analysis from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

BACKGROUND

Increased serum urate (SU) and hyperuricemia (HU) are associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases and mortality. SU concentrations are affected by several factors, including diet, and are expected to rise with age. We investigated whether the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet alter this trend.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to assess whether adherence to the DASH diet predicts a longitudinal change in SU concentrations and risk of HU in 8 y of follow-up.

METHODS

Longitudinal analyses using baseline (2008-2010, aged 35-74 y), second (2012-2014), and third (2016-2018) visits data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The inclusion criteria were having complete food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and urinary sodium measurement, in addition to having SU measurement at the 1st visit and at least 1 of the 2 follow-up visits. For the HU incidence analyses, participants had also to be free from HU at baseline. The final samples included 12575 individuals for the SU change analyses and 10549 for the HU incidence analyses. Adherence to DASH diet was assessed as continuous value. HU was defined as SU>6.8 mg/dL and/or urate-lowering therapy use. Mixed-effect linear and Poisson regressions (incidence rate ratio [IRR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) were used in the analyses, adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

The mean age was 51.4 (8.7) y, and 55.4% were females. SU means (standard deviation) were 5.4 (1.4) at 1st visit, 5.2 (1.4) at 2nd visit, and 5.1(1.3) mg/dL at 3rd visit. The HU incidence rate was 8.87 per 1000 person-y. Each additional point in adherence to the DASH diet accelerated SU decline (P< 0.01) and lowered the incidence of HU by 4.3% (IRR: 0.957; 95% CI: 0.938,0.977) in adjusted model.

CONCLUSION

The present study findings reinforce the importance of encouraging the DASH diet as a healthy dietary pattern to control and reduce the SU concentrations and risk of HU.

Validation of glomerular filtration estimation equations adjustable by race/colour in adults from Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

The assessment of renal function is performed using the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) whose measurement by creatinine clearance (ClCr) and is dependent on a 24-hour urine sample, hindering it use in primary healthcare. The equations that estimate GFR from serum creatinine make the test more accessible, however, their adjustments by race/color have been questioned in mixed populations. To test the agreement between CrCl and GFR estimated by formulas (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD-4] and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration [CKD-EPI]), with or without adjusting for race/color, data were used from a sub-study of the National Health Survey (NHS) including 272 adults from Vitória/Espírito Santo who underwent a 24-hour urinary sampling. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Bland-Altman method were adopted. There was adequate agreement between ClCr and equations, but the adjustment by race/color decreases the accuracy of both equations. In the race/color factor, there was similarity between groups for CrCl (p=0.21), suggesting that there is no difference in creatinine metabolism induced by skin color. It is concluded that MDRD and CKD-EPI equations perform satisfactorily in the evaluation of renal function, and the use of corrections for race/color is not recommended.

Validation of equations to estimate kidney function with and without adjustment by race/color in Brazilian adults (ELSA-Brazil)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate accuracy and agreement between creatinine clearance (CrCl) measured in 12-h urine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD-4) and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas, with and without adjustment for race/color.

METHODS

Baseline data from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil) in adults (35-74 years of age) of both genders were used. Serum creatinine was measured in fasting blood and urinary creatinine was measured in an overnight 12-h urine collect. The agreement between CrCl and the calculated GFR was analyzed by the Bland-Altman method. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with race/color factor was used to verify differences between means of CrCl and GFR with and without correction for race/color. Statistical significance was accepted for p<0.05.

RESULTS

From 15,105 participants in the ELSA-Brazil, 12,813 had a validated urine collect. The Bland-Altman diagrams showed that formulas and CrCl agree with each other with a better accuracy for GFR <90 mL/.min x 1.73m2. The adjustment by race/color increased data dispersion. In this range, one-way ANOVA of CrCl with race/color factor showed similarity between groups (p=0.27).

CONCLUSION

MDRD-4 and CKD-EPI are useful formulas for screening cases of chronic kidney disease, and correction by race/color, only in blacks or in black and brown subjects, proved to be unnecessary and reduced the reliability of the equations.

Effects of nutritional supplementation stabilizing muscle mass loss in older patients on hemodiafiltration

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Malnutrition is common in older individuals with end-stage renal disease on maintenance dialysis. Whether nutritional supplementation may improve skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and survival rate in this population is uncertain. We aimed to analyze the effect of a year of nutritional supplementation on muscle mass and survival rate in older patients on hemodiafiltration.

METHODS

In this observational study, older patients (≥65 years old) on maintenance hemodiafiltration were selected to receive nutritional counselling + nutritional supplementation (N = 85, Supp+) or nutritional counselling alone (N = 47, Supp-) and followed for 1 year. The outcomes were a change in SMM and sarcopenia diagnosis. The secondary outcome was 1-year mortality rate. Nutritional parameters included calf circumference, body mass index, anthropometric measurements, subjective global assessment, and handgrip strength (HGS). Data were evaluated using GLM for repeated measures with adjustment for covariates (age and diabetes).

RESULTS

Malnutrition was found in 50.8% of patients. At baseline, patients from the Supp+ group were older and had worse nutritional parameters including hand grip strength, calf circumference, anthropometric findings and sarcopenia (all p values < 0.05). During the follow-up, there was no significant change in sarcopenia (from 50.8% to 58.3%, p = 0.108), and there was a more pronounced decrease in the SMM index in the Supp-group (p = 0.049), with a significant intervention interaction (p = 0.030). Twenty deaths occurred, 7 (35%) in the Supp- and 13 (65%) in the Supp+ group (p = 0.540). SMM index (relative risk 0.90, p = 0.030) and age (relative risk 1.07, p = 0.046) were independently associated with higher mortality rates.

CONCLUSION

Nutritional supplementation in older and malnourished individuals undergoing hemodiafiltration mitigates the loss of the SMM index and benefits survival rate.

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in older indigenous peoples of Brazil: findings from a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent disease worldwide, with increasing incidence particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Indigenous communities have poorer CKD outcomes due to limited access to healthcare. They are also experiencing a shift toward a sedentary lifestyle and urbanization-related dietary changes, increasing the risk of CKD-related risk factors.

AIM

To determine the prevalence of CKD in older Brazilian indigenous and identify the main associated risk factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study analyzed demographic and clinical data of 229 older indigenous individuals aged 60 years and above in 2022-2023. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a urinary albumin-creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g. Data were presented categorically and analyzed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CKD in the population was 26.6%, with higher prevalence in women and increasing with age. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 67.7% and 24.0%, respectively, and these comorbidities were associated with CKD: hypertension (OR = 5.12; 95% CI 2.2-11.9) and diabetes (OR = 5.5; 95% CI 3.7-8.2). No association was found between the prevalence of CKD and obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, or smoking.

DISCUSSION

The study found a higher prevalence of CKD among older indigenous populations in Brazil compared to non-indigenous populations, which is exacerbated by risk factors, such as aging, hypertension, diabetes, and lifestyle changes, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention in these communities.

CONCLUSION

Older persons' indigenous individuals have a high prevalence of CKD, which is correlated with factors, such as sex, age, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The high salt intake in adults with metabolic syndrome is related to increased waist circumference and blood pressure: the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health study (ELSA-Brasil)

OBJECTIVES

The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors, and salt consumption has fed intense debate in recent years, although it is yet to be fully elucidated. We aimed to evaluate whether individuals with MetS have a high salt consumption and to identify which components of the MetS diagnosis could be independently related to high salt consumption.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 11 982 adults, ages 35 to 74 y, from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) cohort study, from which clinical and anthropometric data were assessed, and a validated 12-h overnight urine collection was used to estimate salt intake. MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.

RESULTS

Salt intake was increased in individuals with MetS compared with individuals without MetS, regardless of sex (men: 14.3 ± 6.4 g/d versus 12.2 ± 5.5 g/d, P < 0.001; women: 10.6 ± 4.9 g/d versus 8.9 ± 4.0 g/d, P < 0.001) and increased progressively as the MetS criteria accumulated. The high salt intake in MetS participants, however, was observed only in the presence of elevated waist circumference and/or blood pressure and not with the other MetS criteria (reduced high-density lipoprotein, increased triglycerides, and impaired fasting blood glucose), regardless of the presence of MetS. When diabetes was incorporated as a MetS criterion, increased salt intake was observed in men but not in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Salt intake should be reduced worldwide, but strategies must be more intense in people with elevated blood pressure and waist circumference, regardless of MetS diagnosis, to avoid the associated morbidity and mortality.

Kidney function decline associated with proton pump inhibitors: results from the ELSA-Brasil cohort

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the longitudinal association of use and time of use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) with incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney function change.

METHODS

Prospective study with 13,909 participants from baseline (2008-2010) and second wave (2012-2014) of the ELSA-Brasil (mean interval between visits = 3.9 years (1.7-6.0)). Participants answered about use and time use of the PPI in the two weeks prior the interview. Renal function was assessed by glomerular filtration rate estimated by the Collaboration Equation for the Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease. Values below 60ml/min/1.73 m² in wave 2 were considered incident CKD. Associations between PPI use and time of use at baseline and incident CKD and decline in renal function were estimated, respectively, by logistic regression and linear models with mixed effects, after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

After adjustments, PPI users for more than six months had an increased risk of CKD compared to non-users. Compared to non-users, users PPIs for up to six months and above six months had greater decline in kidney function over time.

CONCLUSION

This cohort of adults and elderly, after a mean interval of 3.9 years, PPI use and initial duration were associated with kidney function change between visits.

Sleep irregularity and the association with hypertension and blood pressure levels: the ELSA-Brasil study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations of sleep irregularity with hypertension (HTN) and blood pressure (BP) levels.

METHODS

Adult participants from the ELSA-Brasil performed a clinical evaluation including objective sleep duration (actigraphy), insomnia, and a sleep study for defining obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). To quantify sleep irregularity, we used two parameters obtained through actigraphy: 7-day standard deviation (SD) of sleep duration and 7-day SD of sleep-onset timing. A multivariate analysis was used to determine the independent associations of sleep irregularity with HTN and SBP/DBP values.

RESULTS

We studied 1720 participants (age 49 ± 8 years; 43.4% men) and 27% fulfilled the HTN diagnosis. After adjustments for age, gender, race, BMI, excessive alcohol consumption, physical activity intensity, urinary sodium excretion, insomnia, objective sleep duration and OSA (apnoea-hypopnoea index ≥15 events/h), we found that the continuous analysis of 7-day SD of sleep duration was modestly associated with prevalent HTN. However, 7-day SD of sleep duration more than 90 min was independently associated with SBP [ β : 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-2.88] and DBP ( β : 1.07; 95% CI 0.12-2.01). Stratification analysis excluding participants with OSA revealed that a 7-day SD of sleep duration greater than 90 min was associated with a 48% higher chance of having HTN (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.05-2.07). No significant associations were observed for the SD of sleep-onset timing.

CONCLUSION

Objective measurement of sleep irregularity, evaluated by SD of sleep duration for 1 week, was associated with HTN and higher BP levels, especially in participants without OSA.

Population knowledge on chronic kidney disease, its risk factors and means of prevention: a population-based study in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasing significantly. There is evidence that a large part of the population does not have enough knowledge on the subject.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the level of knowledge about CKD in the general population, its risk factors and means of prevention.

METHODS

We ran a cross-sectional study in the population of Fortaleza, Ceará - Brazil, between 2017 and 2020, with the application of a questionnaire on CKD, risk factors and prevention.

RESULTS

we interviewed 735 volunteers, with a mean age of 38 years, of which 55% were female. Only 17.2% correctly responded to the concept of CKD, and 5.8% knew the concept of creatinine. Low water intake was the most cited risk factor by respondents (79.3%). The main risk factors and direct causes of CKD (diabetes and hypertension) were mentioned less frequently (13.2% and 15.1%, respectively). Men were more correct regarding risk factors and ways to prevent CKD. Older respondents answered more correctly the questions about the definition of CKD (n = 22; 28.6%) and creatinine (n = 7; 9.0%). With regards to education there was a statistically significant correlation in all the questions (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There is little knowledge about CKD in the general population. Higher level of education is associated with better knowledge. More health education actions are needed so that the population becomes better acquainted with CKD and, consequently, can adopt more adequate prevention and control measures.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Risk Stratification of Chronic Kidney Disease in Cardiological Patients in São Paulo, Brazil

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) provides a worse prognosis for patients with heart disease. In Latin America, studies that analyzed the prevalence and risk stratification of CKD in this population are scarce. We aimed to evaluate CKD prevalence and risk categories in patients of a public referral cardiology hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study based on a laboratory database. Outpatient serum creatinine and proteinuria results performed between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 were analyzed. CKD was defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and proteinuria, by the albumin/creatinine ratio in a spot urine sample (UACR) >30 mg/g. A total of 36,651 adults were identified with serum creatinine levels (median age 72.4 [IQR, 51.0–73.6] years, 51% male). Among them, 51.9% had UACR dosage (71.5% with UACR < 30 mg/g, 22.6%, between 30–300 mg/g, and 5.9% with UACR > 300 mg/g). The prevalence of CKD was 30.9% (15.3% stage 3a, 10.2% stage 3b, 3.6% stage 4, and 1.7% stage 5), and the distribution of patients in the risk categories of the disease was: 52.0% with low-risk, 23.5%, moderate risk, 13.0%, high risk, and 11.2%, very high. In an outpatient setting, the prevalence of CKD in cardiological patients was almost three times (31%) that of the general population; about half of the individuals evaluated (48%) were not screened for an important risk marker (proteinuria), and approximately a quarter of these patients (24%) were in the high or very high CKD risk categories.

Health-related patterns and chronic kidney disease in the Brazilian population: National Health Survey, 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify patterns related to health and their association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Brazilian population.

Methods

We used data from the National Health Survey (PNS), 2019. Participants were interviewed and answered questions related to socioeconomic and demographic information (gender, age, education, race/color), health conditions (presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, overweight and CKD) and lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and food consumption). To identify patterns, we used exploratory factor analysis. We performed logistic regression models to describe the association of CKD with each pattern in crude models and adjusted for gender, age group, education level and race/color.

Results

A total of 90,846 individuals were evaluated. The prevalence of CKD was 1.49% (95% CI: 1.3-1.6). Three health-related patterns - metabolic factors, behavioral risk factors and behavioral protective factors - were identified by factor analysis. Metabolic factors were determined by the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Behavioral risk factors were determined by smoking, alcohol consumption, regular consumption of soft drinks, sweets and artificial juices, and high salt consumption. The protective behavioral factors were established by the practice of physical activity and regular consumption of vegetables and fruits. Participants of the highest tertile for metabolic factors were more likely to have CKD in the adjusted model (OR = 3.61, 95% CI: 2.69-4.85), when compared to those of the lower tertile.

Conclusion

The pattern referring to metabolic factors was associated with a higher chance of presenting CKD.

Ultra-processed foods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal association with uric acid and hyperuricemia in ELSA-Brasil

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Food intake influences uric acid (UA) levels and hyperuricemia (HU), but evidence on the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are scarce. The association between UPFs consumption and (1) HU prevalence and UA levels; (2) HU cumulative incidence; and (3) UA level change over a 4-year period was investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed using baseline (2008-2010, aged 35-74 years) and second visit (2012-2014) data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Participants with glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, bariatric surgery, implausible caloric intake, and using urate-lowering therapy (ULT) at baseline were excluded (all analyses). Participants with HU at baseline were excluded from longitudinal analyses. UPFs consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and categorized by the NOVA classification system (100 g/day). HU was defined as UA≥6.8 mg/dL. Linear, logistic, and mixed-effect linear regressions investigated the associations between UPFs consumption and UA/HU, adjusted for covariates. The final samples included 13,923 (cross-sectional) and 10,517 (longitudinal) individuals. The prevalence of HU was 18.7%, and the cumulative incidence was 4.9%. Greater UPFs consumption was associated with a greater prevalence of HU (OR:1.025 95%CI: 1.006; 1.044) and higher UA levels (β:0.024 95%CI: 0.016; 0.032). Every additional consumption of 100 g/day of UPFs raised the 4-year cumulative incidence of HU by 5.6% (95%CI: 1.021; 1.092). However, UPFs were not associated with the pace of UA level changes during the study period.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that greater UPFs consumption is associated with another deleterious health consequence: higher UA levels and the risk of having HU.

Urbanization and kidney dysfunction in Brazilian indigenous people: a burden for the youth

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the degree of urbanization influences the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Brazilian indigenous people.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study conducted between 2016 and 2017 in northeastern Brazil and includes individuals aged between 30 and 70 years from two specific indigenous groups who volunteered to participate in the study: the Fulni-ô people (lowest degree of urbanization) and the Truká group (greater degree of urbanization). Cultural and geographical parameters were used to characterize and measure the magnitude of urbanization. We excluded individuals with known cardiovascular disease or renal failure who required hemodialysis. Chronic kidney disease was defined as a single measurement of an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine equation.

RESULTS

A total of 184 indigenous people from the Fulni-ô group and 96 from the Truká group with a median age of 46 years (interquartile range: 15.2) were included. We found a chronic kidney disease rate of 4.3% in the total indigenous population, generally affecting an older population: 41.7% over 60 years old (p<0.001). The Truká people had a chronic kidney disease prevalence of 6.2%, with no differences in kidney dysfunction across age groups. The Fulni-ô participants had a chronic kidney disease prevalence of 3.3%, with a higher proportion of kidney dysfunction in older participants (of the six Fulni-ô indigenous people with chronic kidney disease, five were older).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that a higher degree of urbanization seems to negatively influence the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Brazilian indigenous people.

Conhecimento da população sobre a doença renal crônica, seus fatores de risco e meios de prevenção: um estudo de base populacional em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil

Resumo Introdução: A doença renal crônica (DRC) vem aumentando de forma significativa. Há evidências de que grande parte da população não tem conhecimento suficiente sobre o assunto. Objetivo: Investigar na população geral o nível de conhecimento sobre a DRC, seus fatores de risco e meios de prevenção. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal na população de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, entre 2017 e 2020, com aplicação de um questionário sobre DRC, fatores de risco e prevenção. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 735 voluntários, com média de idade de 38 anos, dos quais 55% eram do sexo feminino. Apenas 17,2% responderam corretamente ao conceito de DRC, e 5,8% sabiam o conceito de creatinina. A baixa ingestão hídrica foi o fator de risco mais citado pelos entrevistados (79,3%). Os principais fatores de risco e as causas diretas de DRC (diabetes e hipertensão) foram mencionados com menor frequência (13,2% e 15,1%, respectivamente). Os homens tiveram maior acerto com relação aos fatores de risco e às formas de prevenção da DRC. Os entrevistados com idade mais avançada responderam mais corretamente às perguntas sobre a definição de DRC (n = 22; 28,6%) e creatinina (n = 7; 9,0%). No que diz respeito à escolaridade, em todas as perguntas houve correlação estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05). Conclusão: Há um baixo nível de conhecimento sobre a DRC na população geral. Maior nível de escolaridade associa-se a um melhor conhecimento. São necessárias mais ações de educação em saúde para que a população conheça melhor a DRC e consequentemente possa adotar medidas de prevenção e controle mais adequadas.

Twenty-year Follow-up of Patients With Epidemic Glomerulonephritis due to Streptococcus zooepidemicus in Brazil

Introduction

Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) has a good prognosis in children, but few studies have evaluated the long-term renal outcomes in adults with PSGN.

Methods

In a follow-up study, 47 predominantly adult patients with PSGN due to group C Streptococcus zooepidemicus were reassessed 20 years after an outbreak in Nova Serrana, Brazil. We evaluated clinical characteristics, renal outcomes, and the trajectory of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by the creatinine-based chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration equation from 5 follow-up assessments. Logistic regression and mixed-effects regression were used in the analysis.

Results

After 20 years, the participants’ mean age was 56.6±15.1 years. Thirty-four (72%) patients had hypertension, 21 (44.7%) had eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m², 8 of 43 (18.6%) had urine protein-to-creatinine ratio >150 mg/g, and 25 (53%) had CKD (low eGFR and/or increased proteinuria). Increasing age was associated with CKD (odds ratio: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.13; P = 0.011) in multivariate analysis. The mean eGFR decline in the last 11 years of follow-up was −3.2 ml/min per 1.73 m² per year (95% CI: −3.7 to −2.7). Older age at baseline (coefficient −1.05 ml/min per 1.73 m² per year; 95% CI −1.28 to −0.81; P < 0.001), and hypertension 5 years after the outbreak (coefficient −7.78 ml/min/1.73 m²; 95% CI −14.67 to −0.78; P = 0.027) were associated with lower eGFR during the whole study period.

Conclusion

There was a marked worsening of renal function and a high prevalence of CKD and hypertension after 20 years of PSGN outbreak. Long-term follow-up is warranted after PSGN, especially among older patients.

Racial inequalities in multimorbidity: baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

BACKGROUND

Evidence of multimorbidity has come mainly from high-income regions, while disparities among racial groups have been less explored. This study examined racial differences in multimorbidity in the multiracial cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto), ELSA-Brasil.

METHODS

The study examined baseline (2008-2010) data for 14 099 ELSA-Brasil participants who self-reported being white, mixed-race, or black. A list of 16 morbidities was used to evaluate multimorbidity, operationalised by simple count into ≥ 2, ≥ 3, ≥ 4, ≥ 5 and ≥ 6 morbidities, in addition to evaluating the number of coexisting conditions. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated from logistic models and a quantile model was used to examine racial differences graphically in the distribution quantiles for the number of morbidities.

RESULTS

Overall prevalence of multimorbidity (≥ 2 morbidities) was 70% and, after controlling for age and sex, was greater among mixed-race and black participants - by 6% (PR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03-1.08) and 9% (PR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.06-1.12), respectively - than among white participants. As the cutoff value for defining multimorbidity was raised, so the strength of the association increased, especially among blacks: if set at ≥ 6 morbidities, the prevalence was 27% greater for those of mixed-race (PR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07-1.50) and 47% greater for blacks (PR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.22-1.76) than for whites. The disparities were smaller in the lower morbidity distribution quantiles and larger in the upper quantiles, indicating a heavier burden of disease, particularly on blacks.

CONCLUSIONS

Multimorbidity was common among adults and older adults in a Brazilian cohort, but important racial inequalities were found. Raising the cutoff point for defining multimorbidity revealed stronger associations between race/skin colour and multimorbidity, indicating a higher prevalence of multimorbidity among mixed-race and black individuals than among whites and that the former groups coexisted more often with more complex health situations (with more coexisting morbidities). Interventions to prevent and manage the condition of multimorbidity that consider the social determinants of health and historically discriminated populations in low- and middle-income regions are necessary.

Does gestational diabetes increase the risk of maternal kidney disease? A Swedish national cohort study

Background

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. It is uncertain whether GDM is independently associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease. The aim was to examine the association between GDM and maternal CKD and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and to determine whether this depends on progression to overt T2DM.

Methods

A population-based cohort study was designed using Swedish national registry data. Previous GDM diagnosis was the main exposure, and this was stratified according to whether women developed T2DM after pregnancy. Using Cox regression models, we estimated the risk of CKD (stages 3–5), ESKD and different CKD subtypes (tubulointerstitial, glomerular, hypertensive, diabetic, other).

Findings

There were 1,121,633 women included, of whom 15,595 (1·4%) were diagnosed with GDM. Overall, GDM-diagnosed women were at increased risk of CKD (aHR 1·81, 95% CI 1·54–2·14) and ESKD (aHR 4·52, 95% CI 2·75–7·44). Associations were strongest for diabetic CKD (aHR 8·81, 95% CI 6·36–12·19) and hypertensive CKD (aHR 2·46, 95% CI 1·06–5·69). These associations were largely explained by post-pregnancy T2DM. Among women who had GDM + subsequent T2DM, strong associations were observed (CKD, aHR 21·70, 95% CI 17·17–27·42; ESKD, aHR 112·37, 95% CI 61·22–206·38). But among those with GDM only, associations were non-significant (CKD, aHR 1·11, 95% CI 0·89–1·38; ESKD, aHR 1·58, 95% CI 0·70–3·60 respectively).

Conclusion

Women who experience GDM and subsequent T2DM are at increased risk of developing CKD and ESKD. However, GDM-diagnosed women who never develop overt T2DM have similar risk of future CKD/ESKD to those with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Racismo e iniquidade racial na autoavaliação de saúde ruim: o papel da mobilidade social intergeracional no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil)

Resumo: Pretos e pardos apresentam grandes desvantagens de saúde, possuem menores chances de ascensão na hierarquia social no curso de vida e menores níveis socioeconômicos do que brancos como resultado do racismo estrutural. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre o papel mediador da mobilidade intergeracional na associação entre racismo e saúde. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a associação entre racismo e a autoavaliação de saúde, e verificar em que medida a mobilidade social intergeracional media essa associação. Estudo transversal realizado com dados de 14.386 participantes da linha de base (2008-2010) do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). Escolaridade materna, escolaridade do participante, classe sócio-ocupacional do chefe de família e classe sócio-ocupacional do participante compuseram os indicadores de mobilidade social intergeracional (educacional e sócio-ocupacional). Modelos de regressão logística foram utilizados. A prevalência de autoavaliação de saúde ruim foi de 15%, 24% e 28% entre brancos, pardos e pretos, respectivamente. Após ajustes por idade, sexo e centro de investigação foram encontradas maiores chances de autoavaliação de saúde ruim entre pretos (OR = 2,15; IC95%: 1,92-2,41) e pardos (OR = 1,82; IC95%: 1,64-2,01) quando comparados aos brancos. A mobilidade educacional e sócio-ocupacional intergeracional mediaram, respectivamente, 66% e 53% da associação entre a raça/cor e autoavaliação de saúde ruim em pretos, e 61% e 51% em pardos, respectivamente. Resultados confirmam a iniquidade racial na autoavaliação de saúde e apontam que a mobilidade social intergeracional desfavorável é um importante mecanismo para explicar essa iniquidade.

The positive association between serum uric acid, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus in the ELSA-Brasil study

There is a conflict in the literature regarding the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and glycemic status. Therefore, we evaluated the association between SUA level and glycemic status - impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and diabetes mellitus - and insulin resistance, in a large Brazilian study. This is a cross-sectional, observational study with 13,207 participants aged 35-74 years, at baseline (2008-2010) of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). A multinomial regression analysis was performed to test the association between SUA and glycemic status (IFG, IGT, and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes at the cohort baseline) after adjustments by age, sex, skin color, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, and medicines use. Logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between SUA and insulin resistance by HOMA-IR. Stratified analyses by sex were performed. The mean age (standard deviation) was 51.4 (8.9) years, 55.2% of participants were women. There were 1,439 newly diagnosed diabetes. After all adjustments, higher SUA was associated with IFG, IGT, and diabetes, with odds ratio (OR) = 1.15 (95%CI: 1.06; 1.25), 1.23 (95%CI: 1.14; 1.33), and 1.37 (95%CI: 1.24; 1.51), respectively. There was association between SUA levels and insulin resistance with OR = 1.24 (95%CI: 1.13; 1.36). In analysis stratified by sex, higher SUA persisted independently associated with impaired glycemic status. Our results suggest that a higher SUA levels were significantly associated with glycemic status in a large Latin American population, mainly among women.

Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Combined Increases the Risk for Mortality in Older Adults on Hemodialysis

Aim: Sarcopenia and malnutrition are highly prevalent in older adults undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and are associated with negative outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the role of sarcopenia and malnutrition combined on the nutritional markers, quality of life, and survival in a cohort of older adults on chronic HD. Methods: This was an observational, longitudinal, and multicenter study including 170 patients on HD aged >60 years. Nutritional status was assessed by 7-point-subjective global assessment (7p-SGA), body composition (anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (Baumgartner's prediction equation). Quality of life was assessed by KDQoL-SF. The cutoffs for low muscle mass and low muscle strength established by the 2019 European Working group on sarcopenia for Older People (EWGSOP) were used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Individuals with a 7p-SGA score ≤5 were considered malnourished, individuals with low strength or low muscle mass were pre-sarcopenic, and those with low muscle mass and low muscle strength combined as sarcopenic. The sample was divided into four groups: sarcopenia and malnutrition; sarcopenia and no-malnutrition; no-sarcopenia with malnutrition; and no-sarcopenia and no-malnutrition. Follow-up for survival lasted 23.5 (12.2; 34.4) months. Results: Pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia, and malnutrition were present in 35.3, 14.1, and 58.8% of the patients, respectively. The frequency of malnutrition in the group of patients with sarcopenia was not significantly higher than in the patients without sarcopenia (66.7 vs. 51.2%; p = 0.12). When comparing groups according to the occurrence of sarcopenia and malnutrition, the sarcopenia and malnutrition group were older and presented significantly lower BMI, calf circumference, body fat, phase angle, body cell mass, and mid-arm muscle circumference. In the survival analysis, the group with sarcopenia and malnutrition showed a higher hazard ratio 2.99 (95% CI: 1.23: 7.25) for mortality when compared to a group with no-sarcopenia and no-malnutrition. Conclusion: Older adults on HD with sarcopenia and malnutrition combined showed worse nutritional parameters, quality of life, and higher mortality risk. In addition, malnutrition can be present even in patients without sarcopenia. These findings highlight the importance of complete nutritional assessment in patients on dialysis.

Association of Sodium with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The ELSA-Brasil Study

Rationale: Excessive sodium may have a role in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for patients with hypervolemic conditions, but it is unclear whether this is valid for all patients with OSA, including those with no significant comorbidities.Objectives: To test the association of urinary sodium and OSA in a large sample of participants from the ELSA-Brasil (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto-Brasil) Study. In addition, we stratified the analysis participants according to the presence of hypertension.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, OSA was defined by an apnea-hypopnea index ≥15 events/h. A validated 12-hour urine collection as representative of the 24-hour period was obtained from all participants to measure sodium excretion. We performed a logistic regression analysis to test the association of urinary sodium excretion with OSA (dependent variable) adjusting for age, sex, race and income, glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, physical activity, and antihypertensive classes related to sodium excretion. To address potential residual factors that may influence sodium excretion, we performed additional analysis replacing sodium excretion for salt intake (food frequency questionnaire) using the same models.Results: We studied 1,946 participants (age 49 ± 8 yr; 43.4% men). A third of them had OSA. Compared with those with no OSA, participants with OSA presented with higher sodium excretion (1.66 [1.19-2.29] vs. 1.99 [1.44-2.69] g/12 h; P < 0.001). After adjustments for confounding factors, we found no overall significant associations of sodium excretion with OSA (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-1.23; P = 0.150). Regardless of the OSA status, the sodium excretion was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive participants (1.93 [1.35-2.64] vs. 1.71 [1.22-2.37] g/12 h). An independent association of sodium excretion with OSA was observed in patients with hypertension only (OR, 1.326; 95% CI, 1.067-1.648; P = 0.011), but the interaction of urinary sodium with hypertension was not significant (P = 0.37). The analysis of salt intake revealed consistent findings.Conclusions: The potential role of sodium in the pathogenesis of OSA seems to be modest and limited for those with higher salt intake and, consequently, higher fluid retention such as observed in patients with hypertension.

Complications related to dental extractions in patients with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To clinically assess socket healing after tooth extraction and the occurrence of intra- and postoperative complications in patients with chronic kidney failure (CKF) receiving hemodialysis (HD) by comparing them with a control group.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective study involved 48 patients with CKF receiving HD (study group [SG]) and 29 participants without CKF (control group [CG]) undergoing tooth extractions. No prophylactic antibiotic was administered to the participants. One calibrated dentist evaluated all individuals at 3, 7, 21, and 60 days after the tooth extractions and assessed hemostasis time, occurrence of local or distant infection, epithelialization, and deposition of alveolar bone.

RESULTS

In the SG, 87 teeth were extracted through 65 interventions, and in the CG, 76 teeth were extracted through 36 interventions. Bleeding beyond 30 minutes was observed in 12 interventions (18.5%) in SG participants and was controlled with local hemostatic agents. Neither group had individuals presenting with postoperative infectious complications at the surgical site or at a distance. After 21 days, we observed delayed epithelialization in 29.9% (26 of 87) of the individuals in the SG compared with 3.9% (3 of 37) of those in the CG (P < .001). After 60 days, all the sockets were epithelialized and showing radiographic signs of alveolar bone neoformation.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with CKF receiving hemodialysis tend to heal well after dental extractions. They did not have an increased risk of infectious complications after simple tooth extractions, but they showed prolonged bleeding events more often than control subjects. Additional research studies using larger sample sizes of patients with CKF receiving hemodialysis are needed to confirm our findings.

Sugar-sweetened soft drinks consumption and risk of hyperuricemia: Results of the ELSA-Brasil study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The prospective association between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and hyperuricemia is controversial. The aim was to investigate the association of the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juices with the incidence of hyperuricemia and the levels of serum uric acid in the participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Longitudinal analysis in ELSA-Brasil participants (baseline 2008-2010 and follow-up 2012-2014). The sample consisted of 10,072 civil servants (35-74 years, both sexes). The consumption of beverages estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (baseline) was divided into five categories: nonconsumption and quartiles (≥0.1 mL/day). Hyperuricemia was defined as uric acid ≥7.0 mg/dL (men) and ≥5.7 mg/dL (women). Poisson regression with robust variance and multiple linear regression were tested. The average consumption of soft drinks was 84 ± 191 mL/day in men and 42 ± 128 mL/day in women. After 4 years of follow-up, the higher consumption of soft drinks (men: 401 ± 303 mL/day; women: 390 ± 290 mL/day) increased the relative risk of hyperuricemia by 30% (men) and 40% (women), and was associated with increased mean uric acid (men: β = 0.14 mg/dL; 95% CI 0.41-0.24; women: β = 0.11 mg/dL; 95% CI 0.00-0.21). The consumption of unsweetened juice was not associated with hyperuricemia.

CONCLUSION

High consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is associated with an increased relative risk of hyperuricemia and elevated serum uric acid levels in Brazilian adults.

CA-125 and CCL2 may indicate inflammation in peritoneal dialysis patients

Introduction:

Progressive structural changes in the peritoneal membrane occur over the course of treatment in peritoneal dialysis (PD), resulting in an increase in cytokines such as CCL2 and structural changes in peritoneal membrane triggering an increase in CA-125 in dialysate, which reflects a probable local inflammatory process, with possible loss of mesothelial cells. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the association between plasma and CCL2 and CA-125 dialysate levels in patients undergoing PD.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study was conducted with 41 patients undergoing PD. The assessments of CA-125 and CCL2 levels were performed using a capture ELISA. Correlations were estimated using Spearman's correlation and the investigation of the association between the explanatory variables (CCL2) and response variable (CA-125) was done for crude ratio of arithmetic means and adjusted utilizing generalized linear models.

Results:

A moderate positive correlation was observed between the levels of CA-125 and CCL2 in the dialysate (rho = 0.696). A statistically significant association was found between the levels in the CCL2 and CA-125 dialysate (RoM=1.31; CI = 1.20-1.43), which remained after adjustment for age (RoM = 1.31; CI=1.19-1.44) and for time in months of PD (RoM=1.34, CI=1.22-1.48).

Conclusion:

The association of CA-125 levels with CCL2 in the dialysate may indicate that the local inflammatory process leads to temporary or definitive changes in peritoneal membrane. A better understanding of this pathogenesis could contribute to the discovery of new inflammatory biomarkers.

Anemia and Cognitive Performance in the ELSA-Brasil Cohort Baseline

OBJECTIVE

The association between cognitive performance and hemoglobin concentration has long been a topic of debate, but few data for middle-aged persons have been explored. The authors examined the association between anemia and cognitive performance at baseline assessment in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), a multicenter cohort study of individuals from six Brazilian cities.

METHODS

A total of 13,624 participants (mean age=51.6 years [SD=9.0]) were included in this cross-sectional study. Cognitive performance was evaluated by using standardized scores for verbal learning, late recall, word recognition, a semantic verbal fluency test, and the Trail-Making Test, Part B (TMT-B). The association between anemia and cognitive performance was examined by using linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS

Anemia was diagnosed in 713 (5.2%) participants. No association was found between anemia and worse cognitive performance for the main models. Global cognitive scores were similar between participants with and without anemia in adjusted models for the entire sample (β=-0.004; 95% CI=-0.052, 0.044) or for men (β=0.047; 95% CI=-0.053, 0.146) and women (β=-0.015; 95% CI=-0.070, 0.040) separately. In addition, hemoglobin levels (in quintile groups) were not associated with global cognitive scores. Similarly, no significant associations with anemia or hemoglobin levels were observed when each cognitive performance test was evaluated separately.

CONCLUSIONS

Anemia and hemoglobin levels were not associated with worse cognitive performance in this large cohort.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and incident depression: Results from the ELSA-Brasil study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to prospectively evaluate whether TSH levels at baseline were associated with incident depression after four years of follow-up in a cohort of middle-aged adults, the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS

TSH and free-thyroxine (FT4) levels were evaluated at baseline. Depression diagnoses were performed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R) at baseline and after a 4-year follow-up. Poisson regression models (95% Confidence Intervals) were built to evaluate the association between TSH quintiles at baseline and incident depression. All analyses were stratified by sex. Models were presented crude, adjusted for age and sex; and further adjusted for race, education, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of antidepressants/benzodiazepines, kidney function and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Mean age was 51.5 years, and 51.2% were women. Overall, low TSH levels (1^st quintile) were associated with incident depression (adjusted RR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.02-1.81), remaining significant for women (adjusted RR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.15-2.33), but not for men. The same results were found when restricting analysis to euthyroid participants (adjusted RR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.08-1.99), also significant for women only (adjusted RR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.12-2.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that low TSH levels were positively associated with incident depression, particularly among women. Similar results were found when restricting the analysis to euthyroid participants. In contrast, high TSH levels were inversely associated with incident depression, also among women.

Association between Adiposity Indexes and Kidney Disease: Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Elsa-Brazil)

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem and it is associated with a high risk of mortality. Overweight and obesity are known as independent risk factors for CKD.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between adiposity indexes and kidney disease.

METHODS

This study included 14,636 adults from ELSA-Brazil. Outcome variables: altered glomerular filtration rate (GFR), categorized as yes (GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) and no (GFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m²), albuminuria, estimated by albumin-creatinine ratio and categorized as yes (≥30 mg/g) and no (<30 mg/g), and presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (altered GFR and/or albuminuria). Exposure variables: obesity and overweight (body mass index (BMI)≥30 and ≥25 kg/m², respectively), high waist circumference (WC) (≥102 cm in men and ≥88 cm in women), high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (≥0.90 in men and ≥0.85 in women), and high waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (≥0.5). To estimate the association between main exposures and outcomes, logistic regression analyses were performed using models adjusted for sociodemographic variables (age, gender, race/skin color, education), behavioral (smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption), components of the metabolic syndrome (HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, hypertension, diabetes mellitus) and history of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, angina or heart failure).

RESULTS

Individuals with obesity, high WC, WHR and WHtR were more prone to albuminuria when compared to individuals with normal values for these measures. It was also observed that these altered measures were positively associated with the presence of CKD.

CONCLUSION

Adiposity indexes have a direct and significant association with albuminuria and CKD.

[Chronic kidney disease among adults in Rio Branco, State of Acre: a population-based survey]

The scope of this study was to establish the prevalence of CKD and associated factors among young adults (18-59 years of age) from Rio Branco in the State of Acre. It involved a population-based survey conducted in 2014, in the urban and rural areas of the municipality and CKD was defined as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60ml/min/1.73m², estimated by the CKD-EPI, and the presence of albuminuria > 29 mg/g. Association measures were estimated by logistic regression, with a confidence level of 95%. The overall prevalence of CKD was 6.2%. The presence of CKD was higher among women, aged 40 to 59 years, with non-white skin color, with lower schooling, and of sedentary disposition. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution according to the presence of CKD in the hypertension, diabetes and hospitalization variables over the past 12 months. CKD among adults was associated with the female sex (OR: 2.41, 95%CI: 1.14-5.12), diabetes (OR: 4.67, 95%CI: 1.28-17.03) and arterial hypertension (OR: 1.98; 95%CI: 1.16-3.37). CKD reveals a high prevalence and is associated with chronic diseases, calling for the need for public health measures for early detection and prevention of its progression.

Dietary patterns and chronic kidney disease risk: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

A number of studies have reported the association between dietary patterns and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), however a consistent perspective hasn't been established to date. Herein, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to assess the association between dietary patterns and CKD.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EBSCO and references from eligible studies were searched for relevant articles published up to 9 May 2020 that examined the association of common dietary patterns and CKD. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed by Cochran's Q test and I² methods.

RESULTS

Seventeen eligible studies, involving 149,958 participants, were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. The highest compared with the lowest category of healthy dietary pattern was significantly associated with a lower risk of CKD (OR=0.69; CI: 0.57, 0.84; P=0.0001). A higher risk of CKD was shown for the highest compared with the lowest categories of Western-type dietary pattern (OR=1.86; CI: 1.21, 2.86; P=0.005). There were evidence of a lower risk of CKD in the highest compared with the lowest categories of light-moderate drinking pattern (OR=0.76; CI: 0.71, 0.81; P< 0.0001) and heavy drinking pattern (OR=0.67; CI: 0.56, 0.80; P< 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that a healthy dietary pattern and alcohol drinking were associated with lower risk of CKD, whereas a Western-type dietary pattern was associated with higher risk of CKD.

Increased Incidence of Chronic Kidney Injury in African Americans Following Cardiac Transplantation

OBJECTIVES

This study examined whether African American race was associated with an elevated risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) post-cardiac transplantation.

BACKGROUND

CKD often occurs after cardiac transplantation and may require renal replacement therapy (RRT) or renal transplant. African American patients have a higher risk for kidney disease as well as worse post-cardiac transplant morbidity and mortality. It is unclear, however, if there is a propensity for African Americans to develop CKD after cardiac transplant.

METHODS

The Institutional Review Board of Columbia University Medical Center approved the retrospective study of 151 adults (57 African American and 94 non-African American) who underwent single-organ heart transplant from 2013 to 2016. The primary outcome was a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), development of CKD, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring RRT after 2 years.

RESULTS

African American patients had a significant decline in eGFR post-cardiac transplant compared to non-African American patients (- 34 ± 6 vs. - 20 ± 4 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.0006). African American patients were more likely to develop CKD stage 2 or worse (eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2) than non-African American patients (81% vs. 59%, p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to report that African American patients are at a significantly higher risk for eGFR decline and CKD at 2 years post-cardiac transplant. Future investigation into risk reduction is necessary for this patient population.

Survival of the Fittest: Addressing the Disparities in the Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly becoming recognized as a global health concern as well as a critical determinant of poor health outcomes. Decreased access to health care and low socioeconomic status (SES) worsen the adverse effects of biologic or genetic predisposition to CKD. All the studies used were retrieved using the PubMed database. The literature suggests that in developing and developed countries, lower SES is inversely proportional to CKD. It shows an inconsistent relationship between CKD and race; that is, there may or may not be a relationship between these two variables. In the United States (US), the prevalence of the early stages of CKD is similar across different racial/ethnic groups. However, the preponderance of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is higher for minorities than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.

Further investigation is required to understand the role of racial disparities and CKD as well as to understand the significant difference seen in the incidence when progressing from CKD to ESRD. It is necessary to recognize how lower SES and racial/ethnic disparity may result in the impediment of appropriate disease management. A possible approach is the use of the biopsychosocial model, which integrates biological, individual, and neighborhood factors. A practical method of providing appropriate care to these populations will require economically feasible prevention strategies as well as extending the scope of dialysis by the implementation of cheaper alternatives.

Trends and predictions for survival and mortality in individuals with Down syndrome in Brazil: A 21-year analysis

BACKGROUND

Regional heterogeneities and sociodemographic characteristics affect mortality and population survival in Brazil. However, for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) this information remains unknown. In this study, we analysed survival and mortality rates among DS individuals in the five Brazilian geographic regions. In addition, we investigated whether there is an association between mortality and sociodemographic factors across administrative regions.

METHODS

Data between 1996 and 2016, comprising 10 028 records of deaths of individuals with DS, were collected from database records of the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System. Data on race/ethnicity, sex, age and years of schooling were defined for the association analyses. Survival data were analysed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model.

RESULTS

The number of deaths among people with DS has increased in recent years. Children are more susceptible to death, especially in the first years of life. Individuals living in the northern region, Indigenous women and people with no years of schooling have higher mortality. In the Southeast and South region, for White and Yellow, survival is related to a higher level of education. Ethnic factors and years of schooling influence risk for mortality across the administrative regions.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that sociodemographic characteristics affect survival and are associated with the risk of mortality for people with DS. In addition, this suggests that differences in access to health services among Brazilian regions, especially in the first years of life, may affect the survival of individuals with DS.

Factors associated with chronic kidney disease: epidemiological survey of the National Health Survey

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) self-reported in Brazil and characterize the factors associated with it.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional health survey with a household-based, the National Health Survey, performed in 2013. The outcome in the present study was the prevalence of CKD. The groups of explanatory variables were socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, chronic self-reported diseases, anthropometry, and health evaluation. The prevalence of CKD, e their 95% respective confidence interval were estimated, univariate analysis and the multiple logistic regression model were calculated, and remained the variables statistically significant (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

It noticed that 1.42% (95%CI 1.33 - 1.52) of the 60,202 interviewees self-reported CKD. The OR increased progressively with age, being 2.68 among the elderly with 65 years or more (95%CI 1.75 - 4.09). Having health plans with OR = 1.51 (95%CI 1.28 - 1.78), as well as smoking, hypertension and high cholesterol and poor self-reported health with OR = 1.75 (95%CI 1.45 - 2.12), OR = 1.20 (95%CI 1.02 - 1.42), OR = 1.83 (95%CI 1.56 - 2.15), OR = 4.70 (95%CI 3.75 - 5.88), respectively, showed a higher chance of CKD.

CONCLUSIONS

The associated variables were increasing age, health plan coverage, smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and regular or poor health status. The knowledge of CKD prevalence in Brazil and risk and protection factors are essential for disease prevention and the establishment of supporting public health policies.

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

BACKGROUND

Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout.

METHODS

The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function.

FINDINGS

Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, -1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, -1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function.

INTERPRETATION

Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Association between TSH levels within the reference range and adiposity markers at the baseline of the ELSA-Brasil study

Background

The association of thyrotropin (TSH) with overall (body mass index, BMI), visceral (waist circumference and steatosis), and upper subcutaneous (neck circumference, NC) adiposity markers is still controversial, and the aim of this study is to assess these associations in the baseline data of a large cohort from ELSA-Brasil.

Methods and findings

This cross-sectional study included 11,224 participants with normal thyroid function (normal TSH levels). BMI, waist circumference, NC and steatosis, defined by hepatic attenuation (mild or moderate/severe) were the explicative variables. TSH levels were log transformed (logTSH), and multivariate linear regression models were generated to estimate the associations between logTSH and BMI (continuous and categorized), waist circumference, NC, and steatosis after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and comorbidities. The mean age was 51.5±8.9 years, 5,793 (51.6%) participants were women, 21.8% (n = 2,444) were obese, and 15.1% of the sample was TPOAb positive. The TSH levels were significantly higher in the obese group than in the reference group (<25.0 kg/m²). In the multivariable linear regression models, significant associations of logTSH with BMI and obesity were found. LogTSH was associated with waist circumference only among women. NC and steatosis were not related to TSH levels.

Conclusions

TSH levels were associated with overall adiposity and obesity. Further studies may elucidate reference levels of TSH according to BMI status.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Long-term Maternal Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery, are associated with increased risk of maternal cardiovascular disease. Little is known about whether adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with increased risk of maternal chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

OBJECTIVE

To review and synthesize the published literature on adverse pregnancy outcomes (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery) and subsequent maternal CKD and ESKD.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to July 31, 2019, for cohort and case-control studies of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal CKD and ESKD.

STUDY SELECTION

Selected studies included the following: a population of pregnant women, exposure to an adverse pregnancy outcome of interest, and at least 1 primary outcome (CKD or ESKD) or secondary outcome (hospitalization or death due to kidney disease). Adverse pregnancy outcomes included exposure to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or chronic hypertension), preterm delivery (<37 weeks), and gestational diabetes. Three reviewers were involved in study selection. Of 5656 studies retrieved, 23 were eligible for inclusion.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

The Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines were followed throughout. Three reviewers extracted data and appraised study quality. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate overall pooled estimates using the generic inverse variance method.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcomes included CKD and ESKD diagnosis, defined using established clinical criteria (estimated glomerular filtration rate or albuminuria values) or hospital records. The protocol for this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018110891).

RESULTS

Of 23 studies included (5 769 891 participants), 5 studies reported effect estimates for more than 1 adverse pregnancy outcome. Preeclampsia was associated with significantly increased risk of CKD (pooled adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 2.11; 95% CI, 1.72-2.59), ESKD (aRR, 4.90; 95% CI, 3.56-6.74), and kidney-related hospitalization (aRR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.03-6.77). Gestational hypertension was associated with increased risk of CKD (aRR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.11-2.01) and ESKD (aRR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.34-5.66). Preterm preeclampsia was associated with increased risk of ESKD (aRR, 5.66; 95% CI, 3.06-10.48); this association with ESKD persisted for women who had preterm deliveries without preeclampsia (aRR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.64-2.66). Gestational diabetes was associated with increased risk of CKD among black women (aRR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.18-2.70), but not white women (aRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.58-1.13).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this meta-analysis, exposure to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery, was associated with higher risk of long-term kidney disease. The risk of ESKD was highest among women who experienced preeclampsia. A systematic approach may be warranted to identify women at increased risk of kidney disease, particularly after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and to optimize their long-term follow-up.

Fatores associados à doença renal crônica segundo critérios laboratoriais da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde

RESUMO: Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência da taxa de filtração glomerular estimada pelo clearance da creatinina endógena (estimativa da taxa de filtração glomerular - eTFG) menor que 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 no Brasil e os fatores associados. Métodos: Trata-se de um inquérito epidemiológico transversal de base domiciliar. Os dados foram obtidos em subamostra de participantes da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS), realizada em 2013, na qual foi feita coleta de sangue para medida de creatinina plasmática e calculado a eTFG (n = 7.457). Os grupos de variáveis explicativas foram: características sociodemográficas, estilos de vida, doenças crônicas, antropometria e avaliação de saúde. Foram estimadas as prevalências de eTFG < 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 e os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) utilizando a regressão de Poisson para calcular a razão de prevalência bruta (RPb) e ajustada (RPaj) por idade, sexo, escolaridade e região. Resultados: A prevalência de eTFG < 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 foi de 6,48% (IC95% 5,88 - 7,09). Após ajuste, mantiveram-se associados: sexo feminino (RP = 1,40; IC95% 1,16 - 1,68), idade 45-59 anos (RPaj = 7,27; IC95% 3,8 - 14,1), 60 anos ou mais (RPaj = 33,55; IC95% 17,8 - 63,4), obesidade (RP = 1,32; IC95% 1,1 - 1,7), diabetes (RP = 1,44; IC95% 1,2 - 1,8), autoavaliação de saúde ruim/muito ruim (RP = 1,50; IC95% 1,2 - 1,9); menor RPaj foi encontrado nas regiões Nordeste e Sudeste, entre fumantes e com consumo elevado de sal. Conclusão: eTFG < 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 foi mais elevada no sexo feminino, aumentou com a idade, foi associada com obesidade, diabetes e pior avaliação de saúde. O conhecimento da prevalência da doença renal crônica, por meio de exames bioquímicos e dos fatores de risco e proteção, é essencial para subsidiar políticas públicas de saúde.

Association between severe periodontitis and chronic kidney disease severity in predialytic patients: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and different severities of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in predialytic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Demographic, socioeconomic, and medical data of 139 patients from the nephrology service of one university hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, were obtained through interview and clinical records. Full-mouth six-sites per tooth periodontal examinations were performed. Associations between periodontitis, stages of CKD, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were estimated by multivariable models adjusted for sex, smoking, vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, and renal treatment duration. CKD was classified based on eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m² ) estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation.

RESULTS

Patients with severe periodontitis, compared to those without severe periodontitis, had 2.8 (95% CI: 1.25-6.62) and 3.4 (95% CI: 1.27-9.09) times higher risk of being in stages 4 and 5 of CKD, respectively. Having ≥ 2 teeth with clinical attachment loss (CAL) ≥6 mm increased 3.9 times the risk of being in stage 5 of CKD. Patients with severe periodontitis and ≥2 teeth with CAL ≥ 6 mm had 4.4 ml/min/1.73² and 5.2 ml/min/1.73² lower eGFR (p-values < .05), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Severe periodontitis was associated with poor renal conditions in predialytic CKD patients, strengthening the importance of periodontal evaluation in such patient population.