Kidney Function Tests Predict Risk of Death

An analysis of 21 studies has revealed that it is possible to predict a person’s risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and all causes with two quick and simple tests of kidney function and damage. Kunihiro Matsushita, M.D., Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and colleagues studied the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin concentrations and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Results showed that people with high levels of albumin in their urine were at significantly higher risk of death from all-causes than people with lower levels of albumin in their urine. The risk of death in was increased by nearly 50% in those with 30 mg/g albumin to creatine ratio (the threshold for a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease). Whilst mortality risk increased more than four-fold in those with high levels of albuminuria compared to those with an optimal albumin level of 5 mg/g. Matsushita concluded: “The data presented in this analysis confirm that the current thresholds are indicative of increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk with both kidney filtration function and urine protein contributing to risk.”