A Cross-sectional Study of Kidney function and Cardiovascular risk in Korean

Background: The aim of this study is to estimate the cardiovascular risk as renal dysfunctions using glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the general population in Korea in 2005.

Methods: The sample included 3,580 Korean men and women aged 20 years or older. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a measure of kidney function. Normal renal function as defined as a GFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m², a GFR 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73m², was considered mild renal dysfunction, a GFR of 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73m² was considered moderate, a GFR of 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m² was considered severe, and a GFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m² was considered renal failure. Subjects were classified into three groups based on their baseline GFR: greater than or equal to 90 mL/min/1.73m² (normal group), 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73m² (mild renal dysfunction), and less than 60 mL/min/1.73m² (chronic kidney disease group). And 10-year cardiovascular risk was calculated based on Framingham score risk assessment.

Results: The distribution of renal function was 14.0%, 82.2%, and 3.8% in men, 4.0%, 85.5%, and 10.5% in women, respectively. For 10-Year risk in men, distribution of renal function was 2.07 (±1.34), 2.25 (±1.30), and 2.46 (±1.29) , respectively (p<0.05). And for 10-Year risk in women, distribution of renal function was 1.04 (±0.41), 1.13 (±0.54), and 1.32 (±0.55) , respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that cardiovascular risk based on Framingham score risk assessment increase as normal, mild renal dysfunction, and chronic kidney disease group in the community-based study for Korean adults men and women.