Bronchial asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease with exacerbations.
Patients with asthma have higher risks of coronary heart disease, diabetes
mellitus, and hypertension, although the impact of asthma on other vital organs
is not yet verified. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global problem. In
addition to well-known risk factors of CKD, there might be other previously
underestimated or unrecognized risk factors that are not yet discovered.
Aim
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with
CKD among asthmatic patients.
Patients and methods
An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 118 patients known to have
bronchial asthma and 118 healthy individuals; all of them were subjected
to spirometry. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the
Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study group equation.
Results
Development of CKD was significantly higher among asthmatic patients than in
healthy individuals (17.4 vs. 0.8%, respectively). GFR was higher in the wellcontrolled
asthmatic group than in the uncontrolled group (96.3±18.1 vs. 90.1
±20.3), but this difference was statistically insignificant. Occurrence of CKD was
significantly higher among those with asthma for 20 years or longer than those with
asthma for less than 20 years (45.5 vs. 2.4%, respectively). GFR was negatively
correlated to age, BMI, and disease duration with high statistical significance, and
was positively correlated with all parameters of pulmonary function test (FVC%,
FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, and PEFR%) and partial O2 pressure with high statistical
significance. Significant predictors for the development of CKD among asthmatic
patients were longer disease duration and higher BMI. However, high partial O2
pressure was protective for the development of CKD.
Conclusion
Bronchial asthma can be associated with CKD. Prolonged disease duration and
higher BMI were the most common predictors for the development of CKD.
Keywords:
bronchial asthma, chronic kidney diseases, GFR