Scientists from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that men with chronic kidney disease, or CKD, are more likely to experience disease progression and death when compared with women suffering from the same condition.
The research is published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and was conducted by Dr. Ana Ricardo et al.
CKD affects more than 26 million people in the United States. People with the condition experience gradual loss of kidney function.
In severe cases or when left untreated, CKD causes kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a transplant for survival.
In the study, the team examined nearly 1,778 women and 2,161 men.
They analyzed the incidence of end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trends—a key marker of kidney health—and death, and compared them by sex.
At a follow-up of seven years, the rate of ESRD per 100 people was 3.1 in women and 3.8 in men. The corresponding rates of death were 2.6 and 3.6, respectively.
The team found that women had 17 percent lower risk of experiencing ESRD and the risk of death was 31 percent lower in women than in men.
The findings were particularly striking, as they observed men were more likely to be on kidney-protective medications.
Scientists have known for a long time that women are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, but there has been conflicting research on CKD outcomes by sex.
The results of this study suggest that biology and psychosocial factors may be the driver of the sex-related disparity observed in patients with CKD.
Ricardo hopes the study increases public and care provider awareness of the higher risk of kidney failure and death among men.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about drug duo that could treat kidney failure, and common acid reflux drugs may increase your kidney disease risk.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies that drinking coffee may affect your kidney health, and results showing these vegetables may protect against kidney damage in diabetes.
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