Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 12 , Pages 921-928, December 2009

Hyperuricemia Associated With Rapid Renal Function Decline in Elderly Taiwanese Subjects

  • Chung-Jen Yen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Chung-Jen Yen, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10006, Taiwan
    • Chung-Jen Yen and Chih-Kang Chiang contributed equally to this work.
    • ,
  • Chih-Kang Chiang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Integrated Diagnostics and Therapeutics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Chung-Jen Yen and Chih-Kang Chiang contributed equally to this work.
    • ,
  • Li-Chun Ho

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sandy Huey-Jen Hsu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Kuan-Yu Hung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Kwan-Dun Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tun-Jun Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 17 February 2009; received in revised form 18 March 2009; accepted 1 May 2009.

Background/Purpose

Hyperuricemia is encountered frequently in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We tested the hypothesis that uric acid influences glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and is associated with renal function decline in elderly Taiwanese subjects.

Methods

We enrolled 800 elderly Taiwanese subjects for a health checkup. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was measured using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation. eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was used to analyze the prevalence and incidence of CKD. Significant renal function decline was defined as a decrease in eGFR of ≥ 3 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year.

Results

The prevalence of CKD was 18.0% in the elderly subjects. Mean serum uric acid level was 6.6 mg/dL in male and 5.6 mg/dL in female subjects, and eGFR was 71.7 mL/min/1.73 m2. Uric acid levels were associated independently and negatively with eGFR after adjusting for conventional factors of renal function decline. One hundred and sixty-two individuals (31.2%) had a significant decline in renal function. As uric acid level increased by 1 mg/dL, the odds of a significant eGFR decline increased by 1.208.

Conclusion

Serum uric acid level was associated with eGFR and decline in renal function in elderly Taiwanese subjects. Whether hypouricemic therapy could retard the progression of CKD deserves further in-depth study.

Key Words:  aged , chronic kidney disease , glomerular filtration rate , hyperuricemia , Taiwan

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PII: S0929-6646(10)60004-6

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60004-6

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 12 , Pages 921-928, December 2009

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