Association between changes in lipid indexes and early progression of kidney dysfunction in participants with normal estimated glomerular filtration rate: a prospective cohort study

Purpose To investigate whether non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non-HDL-C), remnant cholesterol (RC), and the ratios of lipid indexes are more closely associated with early progression of kidney dysfunction than traditional lipid indexes; and to explore the association between changes in serum lipids during follow-up and annual decline rate in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Methods In this prospective cohort study, 3909 participants with normal eGFR and age≥40 years at baseline were followed for 3.3 years. Progression of kidney dysfunction was assessed as annual decline rate in eGFR. Spearman correlation analysis, linear correlation models, and multiple logistic regression were used to assess the associations between lipid indexes at baseline/both baseline and follow-up and the annual decline rate in eGFR. Results Compared with ΔLDL-C ( β = 0.412), other lipid indexes such as ΔLDL-C/HDL-C ( β = 0.565), ΔTC/HDL-C (β = 0.448), and ΔNon-HDL-C/HDL-C ( β = 0.448) were more closely associated with annual decline rate in eGFR. High TG/HDL-C (OR = 1.699(1.177–2.454)) and TC/HDL-C (OR = 1.567(1.095–2.243)) at baseline, as well as high TC/HDL-C (OR = 1.478 (1.003–2.177)) and TG/HDL-C (OR = 1.53(1.044–2.244)) at both baseline and follow-up were associated with the annual decline rate in eGFR <0.5. High Non-HDL-C (OR = 1.633(1.025–2.602)) and LCI (OR = 1.631(1.010–2.416)) at both baseline and follow-up resulted in a 63% increase in risk of annual decline rate in eGFR >1. Conclusion High Non-HDL-C, RC and the ratios of lipid indexes were more closely associated with early progression of kidney injury than the increase of traditional lipid indexes. These lipid indexes should be monitored, even in participants with normal traditional serum lipid levels.