Search resultsAlcohol consumption and kidney function decline in the elderly
Title
Alcohol consumption and kidney function decline in the elderly
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2010
Authors
Journal
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
Volume
25
Issue
10
Pagination
3301 - 3307
Date published
2010
ISBN
09310509 (ISSN)
Keywords
Aged, aging, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, article, cohort analysis, Cohort Studies, community sample, cystatin C, diabetes mellitus, Female, Glomerular Filtration Rate, glomerulus filtration rate, human, Humans, Kidney, kidney disease, Kidney Diseases, kidney function, kidney function decline, logistic regression analysis, longitudinal study, major clinical study, male, outcome assessment, outcomes, priority journal, progression, Prospective Studies, prospective study
Abstract
Background. Alcohol consumption appears to be protective for cardiovascular disease; however, its relationship with kidney disease is unclear.Methods. This prospective cohort study included 4343 subjects from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal, community-based cohort of persons aged ≥65 from four US communities. We used previously defined categories based on weekly alcohol consumption: none, former, <1 drink, 1-6 drinks, 7-13 drinks and ≥14 drinks. Cystatin C was measured at baseline, year 3 and year 7; eligible subjects had at least two measures. Estimated GFRcys was calculated from cystatin C. The primary outcome was rapid kidney function as an annual estimated GFR (eGFRcys) loss >3 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. Results. Eight percent of the cohort reported former alcohol use and 52% reported current alcohol consumption. During a mean follow-up of 5.6 years, 1075 (25%) participants had rapid kidney function decline. In adjusted logistic regression models, there was no association between alcohol use and kidney function decline (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: none = reference; former = 1.18, 0.89-1.56; <1 drink = 1.20, 0.99-1.47; 1-6 = 1.18, 0.95-1.45; 7-13 = 1.10, 0.80-1.53; >14 = 0.89, 0.61-1.13). Results were similar with kidney function decline as a continuous outcome. Conclusions. Our results suggest that moderate alcohol consumption has neither adverse nor beneficial effects on kidney function. Although clinicians will need to consider the potential deleterious effects associated with alcohol consumption, there does not appear to be a basis for recommending that older adults discontinue or initiate light to moderate alcohol consumption to protect against kidney disease.