Relationship between Hypertension and the Declining Renal Function in Korean Adults

This study examined the association between hypertension (HTN), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) in Korean adults. Data for 8,922 adults (3,941 men and 4,981 women) aged 20 years from the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (20132014) were analyzed. In men, after adjusting for the related variables, the odds ratios (ORs) of HTN [systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90 mmHg, or use of HTN medications] were significantly higher in the decreased eGFR group [eGFR 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , 1.98 (95% CI, 1.213.24)], elevated ACR group [ACR 30 mg/g, 2.03 (95% CI, 1.542.69)], and decreased eGFR plus elevated ACR group [eGFR 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and ACR 30 mg/g, 6.03 (95% CI, 2.8212.92)] than in the normal group (eGFR 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and ACR 30 mg/g). In women, after adjusting for the related variables, the ORs of HTN were significantly higher in the decreased eGFR group (2.29, 95% CI, 1.274.13), elevated ACR group (2.22, 95% CI, 1.682.94), and decreased eGFR plus elevated ACR group (10.77, 95% CI, 3.8929.82) than the normal group. In conclusion, HTN was associated with a decreased eGFR and elevated ACR in Korean men and women. In addition, the prevalence of HTN increased greatly when a decreased eGFR and elevated ACR occurred simultaneously.