Association of Markers of Iron Stores with Outcomes in Patients with Nondialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Assessments of iron stores by serum iron saturation ratio (ISAT) and ferritin are used to direct anemia therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are associated with clinical outcomes in patients on dialysis. The association of ISAT and ferritin with outcomes in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD) has not been studied. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, adjusted hazard ratio 95% confidence interval (CI) with ISAT of 23% versus 18 to 23%; 1.40 (0.99 to 1.98), 1.20 (0.82 to 1.76), and 0.97 (0.67 to 1.41), P = 0.025 for trend. ISAT was also associated with steeper slopes of eGFR (one log-unit higher ISAT associated with a slope of -0.89 ml/min/1.73 m(2) /yr (95% CI: -1.75, -0.02, P = 0.044). Serum ferritin level showed no significant association with outcomes overall, but a trend for higher mortality was observed in patients with a serum ferritin level >250 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Higher ISAT is associated with lower mortality and with more progressive CKD. Clinical trials are needed to examine if correction of low iron levels can improve mortality without affecting kidney function in NDD-CKD.