Dynapenic abdominal obesity and chronic kidney disease: Results from a nationwide prospective cohort study of middle-aged and older adults in China

Introduction

The relationship between dynapenic abdominal obesity (D/AO) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains underexplored, particularly among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the association between these conditions in a specific population.

Method

We conducted a prospective analysis utilizing two waves (2011 and 2015) of data from 5932 participants aged ≥45 years in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Three logistic regression models with covariate adjustment were employed to examine the longitudinal association between D/AO and CKD progression. To strengthen the validity of our results, rigorous sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were systematically conducted to assess the robustness of the observed primary association between D/AO and CKD.

Results

After adjusting for all covariates, D/AO was associated with a significantly increased risk of CKD (OR, 1.57; 95 % CI, 1.03–2.35). In the subgroup analyses, middle-aged adults with D/AO exhibited a significantly higher incidence of CKD, while showing no significant difference in older populations. Subgroup analyses revealed middle-aged adults with D/AO was associated with a significantly increased risk of CKD (OR, 2.40; 95 % CI, 1.14–4.59; p = 0.01), whereas older adults showed no statistically significant association (OR, 1.56; 95 % CI, 0.96–2.46; p = 0.06).

Conclusion

This prospective cohort study demonstrates that D/AO conferred elevated CKD risk in Chinese middle-aged adults, while showing no significant association in older populations. These findings highlight the need for interventions aimed at improving muscle strength and reducing abdominal adiposity in CKD prevention strategies and public health policies.