High BMI during adolescence may increase risk of early chronic kidney disease: JAMA

Despite increasing obesity rates in adolescents, data indicating a link to the onset of early chronic kidney disease had been lacking, reports the research team led by Avishai M. Tsur, M.D., of the Hebrew University Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and a resident at Sheba Tel HaShomer Medical Center. "These findings are a harbinger of the potentially preventable, increasing likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease and subsequent cardiovascular disease,” the researchers say.

The study, conducted by colleagues from major health institutions in Israel and the United States, including Johns Hopkins and Harvard University, included data on 593,660 Israeli adolescents ages 16-20, born after January 1, 1975, who had medical assessments for mandatory military service.

With a mean follow-up of 13.4 years, 1,963 adolescents (0.3%) overall developed early chronic kidney disease:

• For males, the risk of developing CKD increased the most with severe obesity (hazard ratio [HR], 9.4). It was also detected with mild obesity (HR, 6.7), and in those who were overweight (HR, 4.0), or had a high-normal BMI in adolescence (HR, 1.8).

• Among females, increased risk was greatest with severe obesity (HR, 4.3). It was also linked to those who had mild obesity (HR, 2.7), were overweight (HR, 2.3), or had high-normal BMI (HR 1.4).

The findings of this cohort study underscore the importance of mitigating adolescent obesity rates and managing the risk factors associated with developing CKD.

Reference:

Tsur AM, Akavian I, Landau R, et al. Adolescent Body Mass Index and Early Chronic Kidney Disease in Young Adulthood. JAMA Pediatr. Published online December 11, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5420.