Key result
Lower intrapancreatic fat is linked to ~48% lower odds of impaired renal function.
Why the study?
Ectopic fat deposition drives chronic metabolic disease, but the relationship between intrapancreatic fat and impaired renal function remains poorly defined.
Is computed tomography-based intrapancreatic fat deposition associated with impaired renal function in adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=9,432)
No
Is computed tomography-based intrapancreatic fat deposition associated with impaired renal function in adults?
Odds Ratio: 0.52 (95% CI 0.27–0.99)
p-value: p=<0.001 for trend
Greater intrapancreatic fat deposition, as measured by lower CT attenuation, is independently associated with an increased risk of impaired renal function in Chinese adults.
Less intrapancreatic fat was associated with lower odds of impaired renal function; hypothesis-generating in cross-sectional data, prospective studies needed.
BACKGROUND: Ectopic fat deposition in non-adipose organs is increasingly recognized as a driver of chronic metabolic disease, yet the relationship between intrapancreatic fat and impaired renal function remains poorly defined. We investigated whether pancreatic steatosis, quantified by computed-tomography (CT) attenuation, is independently associated with impaired renal function in a large Chinese health-screening cohort. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adults (≥ 20 years) who underwent low-dose chest CT and same-day serum creatinine measurement at the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine between 2018 and 2021. Pancreatic fat was assessed by mean CT attenuation (PanCT) and the pancreas-to-spleen attenuation ratio (P/S). Impaired renal function was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m². RESULTS: Among 9,432 participants (mean age 51.6 ± 15.4 years; 60.7% male), 232 (2.5%) had CKD. Both PanCT and P/S decreased monotonically with increasing impaired renal function prevalence across quartiles (p-trend < 0.001). The highest quartiles of PanCT (> 50.2 HU) and P/S (> 1.03) were associated with 48% (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.27–0.99) and 54% (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.23–0.90) lower odds of impaired renal function, respectively, compared with the lowest quartiles. Restricted cubic splines revealed a linear inverse relationship, and subgroup analyses confirmed consistency in non-diabetic, non-hypertensive, and high-liver-fat individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Greater intrapancreatic fat deposition is independently associated with increased risk of impaired renal function in Chinese adults.
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Zhang et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Impaired renal function (Chronic Kidney Disease) (n=9,432). Pancreatic CT attenuation (PanCT) vs. Lowest quartile of PanCT (< 43.2 HU) was evaluated on Impaired renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-0.99, p=<0.001 for trend). The highest quartile of pancreatic CT attenuation, indicating lower intrapancreatic fat, was associated with a 48% lower odds of impaired renal function compared to the lowest quartile (OR 0.52).
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