Physical inactivity and chronic kidney disease in Australian adults: The AusDiab study

White, Sarah L.; Dunstan, David W.; Polkinghorne, Kevan R.; Atkins, Robert C.; Cass, Alan; Chadban, Steven J.

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2009.08.010

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 21, Issue 2 , Pages 104-112, February 2011

Physical inactivity and chronic kidney disease in Australian adults: The AusDiab study☆

Sarah L. White
- The George Institute for International Health, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia
- Corresponding author. The George Institute for International Health, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9993 4580; fax: +61 2 9993 4502.
David W. Dunstan
- Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Caulfield, Australia
Kevan R. Polkinghorne
- Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Robert C. Atkins
- Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Caulfield, Australia
Alan Cass
- The George Institute for International Health, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia
Steven J. Chadban
- Department of Transplantation, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia

Received 3 February 2009; received in revised form 7 August 2009; accepted 20 August 2009. published online 27 November 2009.

Abstract

Background and Aims

Physical inactivity is associated with cardiovascular risk however its relationship to chronic kidney disease is largely unknown. We examined the association between leisure-time physical activity and risk of chronic kidney disease in a prospective, population-based cohort of Australians aged ≥25 years (AusDiab).

Methods and Results

The baseline sample included 10,966 adults (4951 males and 6015 females). From this sample, 6318 participants with complete baseline and 5-year follow-up urinalysis and serum creatinine measurements formed the study population for longitudinal analysis. Self-reported leisure-time physical activity was measured using a validated, interviewer–administered questionnaire. Compared with sufficiently active individuals (≥150min physical activity per week), those who were inactive (0min/week) were more likely to have albuminuria at baseline (multivariate-adjusted OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.10–1.63). Inactivity (versus sufficient physical activity) was associated with increased age- and sex-adjusted odds of an estimated glomerular filtration rate <3rd percentile (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.65), although this was not significant after multivariate adjustment (OR=1.17, 95% CI 0.91–1.50). Obese, inactive individuals were significantly more likely to have albuminuria at baseline (multivariate-adjusted OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.35–2.25), compared with sufficiently active, non-obese individuals. Baseline physical activity status was not significantly associated with longitudinal outcomes.

Conclusions

Physical inactivity is cross-sectionally associated with albuminuria prevalence, particularly when combined with obesity. Future studies are needed to determine whether this association is causal and the importance of physical activity in CKD prevention.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Chronic kidney disease, Physical activity, Obesity, Albuminuria, Glomerular filtration rate