Abstract P296: Age-related Differences in Risk Factors for Mortality Among Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease: The REGARDS Study
At younger ages, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder associated with an increased risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Older individuals with CKD are 10 to 20 times more likely to die than progress to ESRD. We hypothesized that, among individuals with CKD, the association between traditional cardiovascular risk factors with mortality would be weaker and the association between psychosocial risk factors with mortality would be stronger for individuals ≥ 75 years of age compared to those < 75 years of age. We included 5,924 REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants with CKD without ESRD at baseline. CKD was defined as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g or an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73m2. The 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) was administered and low physical and mental component scores (PCS and MCS) were defined as scores in the lowest quintile. Mortality was assessed through biannual telephone follow-up and contact with proxies provided by the study participant upon recruitment. Date of death was confirmed through death certificates, National Death Index, or Social Security Death Index. Over a median follow-up of 5.0 years, 1,255 deaths occurred. The mortality rate was 30.9 (95% CI: 28.6 - 33.4) and 74.8 (95% CI: 69.2 - 80.8) per 1,000 person-years for individuals < 75 years and ≥ 75 years of age, respectively. Diabetes, history of stroke, and systolic blood pressure were associated with an increased risk for mortality among individuals < 75 years of age but not among those ≥ 75 years of age (Table 1). Low PCS was associated with a higher risk for mortality for both younger and older adults. Symptoms of depression and low MCS were not associated with mortality in either age group. In conclusion, some cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk for mortality among younger but not older individuals with CKD. These data suggest approaches to reduce mortality risk may differ for younger and older adults with CKD.