Uric Acid Levels Predict Future Development of Chronic Kidney Disease

AIMS: Increased uric acid levels are associated with kidney dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that uric acid level predicts future development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population. METHODS: For this study, we enrolled 7,078 consecutive subjects with normal estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR; ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) who visited our hospital for a yearly health checkup (age: 52.8 ± 10.7 years; female: 35.8%). Subjects underwent a routine physical examination and laboratory assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors at enrollment, and were followed up for 1,694 days (median) with the endpoint being the development of CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). The impact of uric acid and other cardiovascular risk factors at baseline on the future development of CKD were assessed. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 417 male (9.2%) and 151 female subjects (6.0%) developed CKD. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the onset of CKD and age, male gender, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, dyslipidemia and uric acid. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that new-onset CKD was independently correlated with the baseline uric acid level after adjustment for possible factors. Subanalysis showed similar results in subjects with normal uric acid levels (male: ≤7.0 mg/dl; female: ≤6.0 mg/dl; n = 6,223). CONCLUSION: Uric acid is an independent predictor of future development of CKD. Whether preventing an increase in uric acid levels reduces the incidence of CKD must be clarified by prospective follow-up studies.