Abstract
Background: Religiosity is associated with better health, yet the underlying mechanism is unclear. Cystatin C is a marker of oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and inflammation. We assessed the influence of religiosity on cystatin C levels among participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
Method: This is a retrospective secondary analysis of the HRS data from 2006 (wave 1), 2010 (wave 2), and 2014 (wave 3), a nationally representative study from the United States. A total of 2,358 participants with complete cases were included in the panel data analysis examining change in religiosity on cystatin C levels. Religiosity and cystatin C were assessed using the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality scale and serum cystatin C levels, respectively, controlling for covariates.
Results: Approximately 59.1% of the participants were female, 87.4% were white, and 12.6% belonged to other races. The average years of education was 13.2 years. From 2006 to 2014, mean cystatin C levels increased from 1.016mg/L to 1.215mg/L, indicating worsening kidney function over time. In the final model, an increase in religiosity over time was negatively associated with cystatin C levels (B: -0.003, 95% CI: -0.005, -0.001). Higher education (B: -0.011, 95% CI: -0.018, -0.005) and being married (B: -0.039, 95% CI: -0.077, -0.001) were negatively associated with cystatin C levels. In contrast, diagnoses of hypertension (B: 0.094,95% CI: 0.064, 0.125), diabetes (B: 0.109, 95% CI: 0.067, 0.152), and overweight (B=0.072, 95% CI: 0.041, 0.102) were positively associated with cystatin C levels. No observed relationship between sex, race, and cystatin c levels.
Conclusion: Increased religiosity is associated with lower cystatin C levels and may play a role in modulating the course of illnesses to which oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, or inflammation may contribute. This study will enhance our understanding of how religiosity might influence kidney health and quality of life.