Association between 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Chinese People with Normal to Slightly Reduced Kidney Function: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Many studies suggest that cardiovascular-related mortality is higher in patients with end-stage renal disease, but few focus on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in subjects with normal to slightly reduced kidney function. Our study aimed to explore the association between normal to slightly decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 10-year ASCVD risk levels among subjects with relative health conditions. A total of 12,986 subjects from the Chinese Physiological Constant and Health Condition survey were included. We used the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations to calculate eGFR and the 10-year ASCVD risk scores to assess the subjects’ risk of 10-year ASCVD. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between ASCVD risk levels and eGFR, and adjust the possible confounding factors. Results indicated that the 10-year ASCVD risk scores gradually increased following the decrease in eGFR. Subjects who had smaller eGFR were more likely to have a greater risk of 10-year ASCVD. Additionally, the association between eGFR and 10-year ASCVD risk level changed with varying eGFR. The risk of one or more levels increasing in the 10-year ASCVD risk group was 5.20 times (Quartile 2 [Q2], 95%CI: 3.90, 6.94), 9.47 times (Q3, 95%CI: 7.15, 12.53) and 11.41 times (Q4, 95%CI: 8.61, 15.12) higher compared with Q1. We found that eGFR was significantly associated with 10-year ASCVD risk among Chinese subjects with normal to slightly reduced kidney function. Therefore, clinicians should strengthen the monitoring of cardiovascular risk in patients with renal impairment (even if renal function is only mildly reduced), assess the patients’ risk of ASCVD, and take early action in high-risk groups to reduce the risk of adverse atherosclerotic cardiovascular events.