Midlife Blood Pressure and Late-Life GFR and Albuminuria: An Elderly General Population Cohort

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in the elderly, but the cause is often not identifiable. Some posit that age-related reductions in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increases in albuminuria are normal, whereas others suggest that they are a consequence of vascular disease. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis of a substudy of a prospective cohort. Setting & Participants AGES (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility)-Reykjavik Study. Predictor Exposure to higher blood pressure in midlife. Outcomes & Measurements Measured GFR using plasma clearance of iohexol and urine albumin-creatinine ratio. Results GFR was measured in 805 participants with mean age in midlife and late life of 51.0 ± 5.8 and 80.8 ± 4.0 (SD) years, respectively. Mean measured GFR was 62.4 ± 16.5 mL/min/1.73 m² and median albuminuria was 8.0 (IQR, 5.4-16.5) mg/g. Higher midlife systolic and diastolic blood pressures were associated with lower later-life GFRs. Associations persisted after adjustment. Higher midlife systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also associated with higher albumin-creatinine ratios, and associations remained significant even after adjustment. Limitations This is a study of survivors, and people who agreed to participate in this study were healthier than those who refused. Blood pressure may encompass effects of the other risk factors. Results may not be generalizable to populations of other races. We were not able to adjust for measured GFR or albuminuria at the midlife visit. Conclusions Factors other than advanced age may account for the high prevalence of CKD in the elderly. Midlife factors are potential contributing factors to late-life kidney disease. Further studies are needed to identify and treat midlife modifiable factors to prevent the development of CKD.