Determinants and burden of chronic kidney disease in a high-risk population in Korea: results from a cross-sectional study

Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated risk factors in a high-risk population in Korea. Methods: A total of 6,045 participants aged >= 65 years (mean age, 73.0 +/- 5.5) with diabetes or hypertension were enrolled. Participants were screened for CKD, which was defined as the presence of albuminuria (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 mg/g) or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Results: The prevalence of CKD was 39.6% (women, 40.3%; men, 38.4%). Albuminuria was detected in 22.6% of participants, whereas eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was found in 24.6% of participants. The prevalence of CKD by stage was 4.4% for stage 1, 10.4% for stage 2, 23.4% for stage 3, 0.9% for stage 4, and 0.3% for stage 5. Older age, concomitant diabetes and hypertension, higher body mass index, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and higher hemoglobin A1c levels were independently associated with the presence of CKD in multivariate-adjusted analyses that included with age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. Conclusions: The prevalence of CKD was very high in the present high-risk Korean population. Our results suggest that a screening method for early detection of CKD in high-risk populations is needed in Korea.