Association of markers of iron stores with outcomes in patients with nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease.
OBJECTIVE
Assessments of iron stores by serum iron saturation ratio (ISAT) and ferritin are used to direct anemia therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are associated with clinical outcomes in patients on dialysis. The association of ISAT and ferritin with outcomes in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD) has not been studied.


METHODS
All-cause mortality and progression of CKD [slopes of estimated GFR (eGFR)] were examined in 453 men with NDD-CKD. Mortality and the composite of mortality and ESRD were studied in Cox models. Slopes of eGFR were examined in mixed-effects models.


RESULTS
Lower ISAT was associated with higher mortality; adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] with ISAT of <12%, 13 to 17%, and >23% versus 18 to 23%; 1.40 (0.99 to 1.98), 1.20 (0.82 to 1.76), and 0.97 (0.67 to 1.41), P = 0.025 for trend. ISAT was also associated with steeper slopes of eGFR (one log-unit higher ISAT associated with a slope of -0.89 ml/min/1.73 m(2) /yr (95% CI: -1.75, -0.02, P = 0.044). Serum ferritin level showed no significant association with outcomes overall, but a trend for higher mortality was observed in patients with a serum ferritin level >250 ng/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher ISAT is associated with lower mortality and with more progressive CKD. Clinical trials are needed to examine if correction of low iron levels can improve mortality without affecting kidney function in NDD-CKD.
Kovesdy
Csaba P
CP
Division of Nephrology, Salem Veteran Affairs Medical Center, 1970 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, VA 24153, USA. csaba.kovesdy@va.gov
Estrada
Wilber
W
Ahmadzadeh
Shahram
S
Kalantar-Zadeh
Kamyar
K
D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron