Increased body mass index is a risk factor for end-stage renal disease in the Chinese Singapore population

Abstract

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is confounded by co-morbidities associated with both conditions. Furthermore, the association at low range BMI is controversial. We studied this association in the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based prospective cohort that recruited Singaporean Chinese men and women 45-74 years of age from 1993 to 1998. Self-reported weight, height, lifestyle factors, usual diet, and medical history were collected viaan interviewer-administered questionnaire. Incident ESRDcases were identified via record linkage with the nationwide ESRD registry. The computed Cox proportional hazard regression was adjusted for potential risk factors. After an average follow-up of 15.5 years, 827 incident ESRD cases were identified. Compared with a normal BMI of 18.5 to under 23 kg/m2, the hazard ratios and (95% confidence intervals) of ESRD risk for BMIs under 18.5, 23 to under 27.5, and 27.5 kg/m2 or more were 0.54 (0.37-0.79), 1.40(1.20-1.64) and 2.13 (1.74-2.59), respectively. This significantly trended, linear, dose-dependent association was only present among those with no history of diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke at baseline, but not significantly among those with any of these co-morbidities. Thus, BMI itself isarisk factor for ESRD in the general population and thisassociation is present in those without pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke.