The dogma is that healthy young people need not worry about kidney function unless it drops to about 50% of the normal range, but our research shows that the reduction is even more modest than 20 -30% could also have consequences and we can Dr. Manish Sood, senior scientist, nephrologist and Jindal Research Chair in Kidney Disease Prevention at Ottawa Hospital and professor at The University of Ottawa, said: “I would have liked to have had earlier conversations about prevention and monitoring.
The team examined ICES health record data from 2008 to 2021 for every adult in Ontario aged 18-65 who had at least one blood test for kidney function, but no kidney function. have a history of kidney disease. kidney disease.
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They found that 18 percent of people aged 18-39 had kidney function that was slightly below normal, but not low enough to be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Individuals in this “gray zone” face a moderately increased risk CKDmortality and cardiovascular events such as heart attack.
Reduce your risk of kidney disease with a healthy diet and exercise
For example, in young adults (18-39 years old), a 20-30% decline in renal function was associated with a 1.4-fold increase in mortality, a 1.3-fold increase in cardiovascular events, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. disease increased 6 times. of kidney failure. However, the absolute risk of any of these events remains as low as 2 in 1000.
“Thankfully, the absolute risk for any individual with kidney function in this gray area is low, but when we look at the entire population, the impact can be quite significant,” said co-author. , said Dr. Greg Knoll, senior scientist. nephrologist and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. “We need more research to confirm these findings and then see if we can reduce the risk through lifestyle changes.”
Although kidney function tests (blood creatinine) are relatively inexpensive and readily available, researchers do not recommend routine testing for all individuals at this time. However, if an individual has had a kidney test that shows a slight decrease in function, it can be a catalyst for conversation with a healthcare provider. All individuals can also reduce their risk of kidney disease by eating healthily with lower salt intake, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol intake.
Dr. Sood and his colleagues previously developed the Chronic Kidney Disease calculator Project BigLife to help individuals calculate their risk of kidney disease and see the impact of lifestyle changes. The calculator will continue to be refined as new research becomes available.
Authority to solve :
- Association between a moderate decrease in renal function and adverse outcomes in young adults: a retrospective population-based cohort study – (https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2023-075062)
Source: Eurekalert
