Background: There is strong biologic plausibility to support change in albuminuria as a surrogate endpoint for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but empirical evidence to supports its validity in epidemiologic studies is lacking. Methods: We analyzed 28 cohorts including 693,816 individuals (80% with diabetes) and 7,461 end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) events, defined as initiation of kidney replacement therapy. Percent change in albuminuria was quantified during a baseline period of 1, 2 and 3 years using linear regression. Associations with subsequent ESKD were quantified using Cox regression in Coresh et al.
Background
Some evidence suggests that chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for lower-extremity peripheral artery disease. We aimed to quantify the independent and joint associations of two measures of chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] and albuminuria) with the incidence of peripheral artery disease.
Methods
In this collaborative meta-analysis of international cohorts included in the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium (baseline measurements obtained between 1972 and 2014) with baseline measurements of eGFR and albuminuria, at least 1000 participants (this criterion not applied to cohorts exclusively enrolling patients with chronic kidney disease), and at least 50 peripheral artery disease events, we analysed adult participants without peripheral artery disease at baseline at the individual patient level with Cox proportional hazards models to quantify associations of creatinine-based eGFR, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), and dipstick proteinuria with the incidence of peripheral artery disease (including hospitalisation with a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease, intermittent claudication, leg revascularisation, and leg amputation). We assessed discrimination improvement through c-statistics.
Findings
We analysed 817 084 individuals without a history of peripheral artery disease at baseline from 21 cohorts. 18 261 cases of peripheral artery disease were recorded during follow-up across cohorts (median follow-up was 7·4 years [IQR 5·7–8·9], range 2·0–15·8 years across cohorts). Both chronic kidney disease measures were independently associated with the incidence of peripheral artery disease. Compared with an eGFR of 95 mL/min per 1·73 m2, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for incident study-specific peripheral artery disease was 1·22 (95% CI 1·14–1·30) at an eGFR of 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 and 2·06 (1·70–2·48) at an eGFR of 15 mL/min per 1·73 m2. Compared with an ACR of 5 mg/g, the adjusted HR for incident study-specific peripheral artery disease was 1·50 (1·41–1·59) at an ACR of 30 mg/g and 2·28 (2·12–2·44) at an ACR of 300 mg/g. The adjusted HR at an ACR of 300 mg/g versus 5 mg/g was 3·68 (95% CI 3·00–4·52) for leg amputation. eGFR and albuminuria contributed multiplicatively (eg, adjusted HR 5·76 [4·90–6·77] for incident peripheral artery disease and 10·61 [5·70–19·77] for amputation in eGFR <30 mL/min per 1·73 m2 plus ACR ≥300 mg/g or dipstick proteinuria 2+ or higher vs eGFR ≥90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 plus ACR <10 mg/g or dipstick proteinuria negative). Both eGFR and ACR significantly improved peripheral artery disease risk discrimination beyond traditional predictors, with a substantial improvement prediction of amputation with ACR (difference in c-statistic 0·058, 95% CI 0·045–0·070). Patterns were consistent across clinical subgroups.
Interpretation
Even mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease conferred increased risk of incident peripheral artery disease, with a strong association between albuminuria and amputation. Clinical attention should be paid to...
Predominantly based on North American and European studies, 30% to 40% declines in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a few years are strongly associated with the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and have been proposed as surrogate endpoints of ESRD for clinical research. However, this association has not been systematically quantified in Asian populations. To do this we studied adult Japanese patients with baseline eGFR 10-59 ml/min/1.73m. Changes in eGFR from baseline measured by centrally assessed serum creatinine were linked to subsequent ESRD in 2410 patients after one year and in 2079 patients after year 2. After year 1, 1.4% experienced a 53% decrease in eGFR (equivalent to doubling of serum creatinine), whereas 4.3% and 9.7% had eGFR decrease of 40% or 30% or more, respectively. The corresponding numbers after 2 years were 4.2%, 10.9%, and 19.3%, respectively. After year 1 baseline period, 498 patients developed ESRD over a median follow-up of 2.9 years (365 ESRD cases over a median follow-up of 2 years after year 2). In year 1, after accounting for potential confounders, a strong linear association was found between eGFR declines and subsequent ESRD, with adjusted hazard ratios of 20.7 (95% confidence interval 14.3-30.1) for a 53% decrease, 9.6 (7.4-12.5) for a 40% decrease, and 5.3 (4.1-6.9) for a 30% decrease compared to no change. Corresponding hazard ratios for year two analysis were 17.3 (11.8-25.3), 6.5 (4.7-9.1), and 3.1 (2.2-4.4), respectively. The associations were consistent across demographics and kidney diseases. Thus, 30% to 40% declines in eGFR are strongly associated with the risk of ESRD in Japanese patients with reduced eGFR, broadening global implications as a surrogate endpoint in clinical research.
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