Metabolic conditions increase risk of kidney graft function deterioration

Editor's Note:

A recent study reveals individuals with obesity or metabolic disorder could have a higher risk of experiencing graft function deterioration (GFD), while individuals with metabolically healthy overweight or obesity (MHO) had an elevated risk. Results were published December 27 in JAMA Network Open.

The cohort study examined 1260 adult recipients of cadaveric kidney transplant in China from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Of that total, 127 (10.08%) experienced GFD after a 2-year followup. Key findings include:

• After accounting for confounding factors in multivariable analyses, overweight or obesity (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10-2.44; P = .02) and metabolic disorder (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.12-2.63; P = .01) were associated with increased risk of GFD. 
• The metabolically healthy overweight or obesity (MHO) subgroup exhibited a greater risk for GFD (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.01-5.57; P = .048) compared with participants who did not have overweight or obesity or metabolic disorder. 
• All components of metabolic disorder, with the exception of elevated triglycerides, were associated with GFD.

Researchers note that additional studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are necessary to validate findings.