Male sex and vascular risk factors affect cystatin C-derived renal function in older people without diabetes or overt vascular disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

to explore the effect of ageing on renal function with cystatin C as the marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the general population without vascular disease or diabetes.

Design

a cross-sectional analysis of a healthy subset from the Good Aging in Skåne-cohort study representative of the Swedish general population.

Subjects

1252 participants without vascular disease and diabetes (43.9% men) of whom 203 were over 80 years old were included from the original cohort of 2931.

Methods

plasma cystatin C and plasma creatinine were used as markers for GFR. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated with three chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas involving cystatin C, creatinine or both.

Results

the median for plasma cystatin C was 0.93 mg/l (60-69 years old), 1.04 (70-79 years old) and 1.24 (80+ years old). The difference in mg/l between the 5th and 95th percentile was 0.46, 0.62 and 0.90 for these age groups. Male sex increased the age effect on plasma cystatin C levels with 0.004 mg/l/year (P = 0.03), adjusted for vascular risk factors. Smoking, lower HDL and higher diastolic blood pressure were associated with higher cystatin C levels. 54.7% (CKD-EPI creatinine) to 73.9% (CKD-EPI cystatin C) of the 80+ had an eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusion

non-diabetics without overt vascular disease exhibit an age related but heterogeneous decline in renal function. The ageing effect is more pronounced in men. At least half of healthy 80+ years old could be expected to have at least CKD Stage 3 with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2.

SUBMITTER: Werner KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4001172 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature