Rapid Kidney Function Decline in Blacks Linked to Elevated Uric Acid

NEW ORLEANS—Elevated serum uric acid levels in blacks is significantly associated with rapid kidney function decline (RKFD), data presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2017 meeting suggest.

Stanford Mwasongwe, MPH, of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, and colleagues studied 3702 participants in the Jackson Heart Study who had complete measures of uric acid at baseline (2000–2004) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) available at baseline and Exam 3 (2009–2013).

The Jackson Heart Study is a population-based longitudinal study of cardiovascular disease in the black population. The study protocol called for participants to undergo 3 exams.

During a median follow-up of 8.1 years, RKFD occurred in 422 participants (11.4%) and CKD developed in 268 (7.5%). Each 1 standard deviation in baseline uric acid level was associated with a significant 1.8-fold increased odds of RKFD and a non-significant 1.4-fold increased odds of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Gender did not influence the association between uric and both RKFD and CKD.

The investigators defined RKFD as a 30% or greater decline in eGFR between exams and CKD as an eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² at Exam 3 with a 25% or greater decline in eGFR.

Reference

Mwasongwe S, Fulop T, Musani SK, et al. Relation of uric acid with rapid kidney function decline and development of kidney disease: The Jackson Heart Study. Presented in poster format at Kidney Week 2017 in New Orleans (Oct. 31 to Nov. 5). Poster FR-PO380.