Age and sex differences in the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and chronic kidney disease among an adult population in Taiwan

Abstract

BackgroundThis study investigated the association between systemic inflammation and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and whether this association changes with aging in adults, by using neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an inflammation marker. Materials and methodsA total of 2954 adults (1815 men and 1139 women) who attended a health examination at a medical center in central Taiwan were included for the final cross-sectional analysis. ResultsCompared with participants aged <60 years, participants aged ≥60 years had a markedly higher prevalence rate of CKD in both men (7.6% vs. 37.8%, p < .001) and women (3.8% vs. 28.0%, p < .001). In men aged <60 years, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that, after adjusting for conventional CKD risk factors, higher NLR (per 1 unit increment) was independently associated with higher risk of CKD [adjusted OR = 1.48 (95% C.I.: 1.10 to 1.99, p = .009)]. There was no such association in both men and women aged ≧60 years, and woman aged <60 years. ConclusionsOur study showed a differential effect that aging has on the relationship between NLR and CKD in men but not in women. Being inexpensive and readily available, NLR may potentially be used for CKD risk assessment in men younger than 60 years of age.