A recent study suggests that large fluctuations in weight or variability in body mass index are associated with higherRisk of cardiovascular problemsand early death in adults with chronic kidney disease. According to researchers, cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in people with kidney problems. For this reason, the study authors wanted to find out whether weight can influence the prognosis of patients with kidney dysfunction.
How major weight fluctuations affect heart health
The present study included 84,636 patients with chronic kidney disease listed in a national health screening database in South Korea. During a median follow-up of 4 years, 6 percent of people died, 4 percent required renal replacement therapy such as dialysis, 2 percent had a heart attack and 3 percent had a stroke. Compared to people with the lowest body mass variability, those with the highest body mass index had a 66 percent higher risk of death. They were also 20 percent more likely to need renal replacement therapy. In addition, such people had a 19 percent higher risk of heart attack and stroke. This research showed that people with kidney dysfunction who had recently fluctuated body mass index had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or death. However, these risks were little influenced by their current weight, according to the study authors.
The current study results indicate that people with impaired kidney function should pay particular attention to significant fluctuations in weight. Those with fluctuating weight may also benefit from appropriate screening and management of risk factors. In this way, cardiovascular diseases or the progression of kidney dysfunction can be prevented, as the research team claims. Results were similar across subgroups. The researchers divided these according to positive/negative trends in body mass index during the period under study. Significant weight fluctuations in certain components of the metabolic syndrome were associated with the prognosis of such patients on dialysis. According to the authorsthis studySuch high variability can be seen as the main cause of a poorer prognosis.
