Alcohol consumption and its association with chronic kidney disease: Evidence from a 12-year China health and Nutrition Survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Alcohol consumption is a major threat to global health. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between alcohol consumption and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a Chinese population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 4664 participants, aged ≥18 years, who participated in a baseline alcohol survey in 1997 and were followed up in 2009 of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), were recruited in the current study. Data on alcohol consumption was obtained using standardized questionnaires, with CKD (defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m) as the outcome. The results showed that 37.3% of the participants had consumed alcohol at the baseline. Current drinkers were mainly men, with at least senior high school education, and a history of smoking. In the 2009 survey, 14.5% of the participants had CKD. Association analyses revealed that alcohol drinkers had a lower likelihood of CKD than non-drinkers (11.0% vs. 16.6%, aOR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.58-1.00), after adjusting potential covariates. Restricted cubic splines revealed that the relationship between alcohol consumption and CKD prevalence was U-shaped. The probability of CKD significantly increased when alcohol consumption exceeded 18 standard drinks per week (aOR: 1.66, 95%CI: 1.00-2.76). Approximately one-fourth of participants changed their drinking patterns during the 12-year follow-up, and male drinkers with persistent drinking patterns had the lowest prevalence of CKD (aOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.31-0.73).

CONCLUSION

Alcohol consumption showed a U-shaped association with CKD. Moderate drinkers exhibited a lower disease prevalence compared with non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. Further studies should be conducted to explore the mechanisms underlying this protective effect. However, non-drinkers should not start drinking alcohol even with this protective effect.