Rates and determinants of fast chronic kidney disease progression distinguished by nutritional status, and the impact of malnutrition on mortality - evidence from a clinical population

Background & aims: Malnutrition is a serious problem that influences morbidity, mortality, functional activity, and quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there has not been much research done on how nutritional status appears to affect mortality in non-dialysis CKD patients. This study aimed to recognize the rates and predictors of fast CKD progression distinguished by nutritional status, and also sought to determine the impact of malnutrition on mortality in non-dialysis CKD patients.

Methods: This prospective cohort study (n = 360) involved non-dialysis CKD patients with index estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the range of 15-89 ml/min/1.73 m². Nutritional status was evaluated by using the "Pt-Global web tool/PG-SGA". A loss of eGFR >4 ml/min/1.73 m² per year was considered to be a sign of fast CKD progression. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to evaluate the cumulative survival, and Cox-proportional hazard models were used to analyze the renal outcomes.

Results: Around 244 (67.8%) of patients have experienced a fast decline in kidney function. In the malnourished group, systolic blood pressure and hyperphosphatemia were observed to have increased hazards for fast CKD progression. The overall incidence of mortality and composite endpoints were found to be 13.9% & 37.6%, respectively. Death rates (11.6%) and composite endpoints (29.8%) were higher in the malnourished (severe & moderate) group. Cox regression hazard model reported 4 times increased hazards for death [HR 4.41 (1.99-9.77) 95% CI; P ≤ 0.005] and 3 times increased hazards for composite endpoints [HR 3.29 (2.10-5.16) 95% CI; P ≤ 0.005] for 'severely malnourished' category in reference to 'normal nutrition' category.

Conclusions: Fast CKD progression was observed to be more common in malnourished patients. Systolic blood pressure and hyperphosphatemia were recognized as potential predictors of fast CKD progression. Moreover, malnutrition was found to be a significant predictor of mortality among non-dialysis CKD patients. The findings of this study advocate for early nutritional evaluation and timely dietary interventions to halt the progression of CKD.