Prevalence and associated factors of impaired renal function in Chinese children: the China Health and Nutrition Survey

AIM: To assess the prevalence of impaired renal function and its associated factors in Chinese children. METHODS: Children aged 7-18 years in China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 2009 were included as participants, and their anthropometric measurements, blood pressure (BP) and biochemical parameters were taken for analysis. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated by using the Schwartz “original” formula. RESULTS: The prevalence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and < 75 ml/min/1.73 m(2) was 10.09% (95% CI: 8.03-12.11) and 1.01% (95% CI: 0.38-1.77) respectively. The prevalence of impaired renal function (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) was 0.25%. Age was detected as a negative associated factor whereas hyperuricemia and elevated total cholesterol (TC) were positively associated factors for subjects with eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2). In the group of eGFR < 75 ml/min/1.73 m(2), only elevated TC was related to the increased odds of decreased eGFR. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the need for large-scale programs to detect and treat the early-stage impaired renal function in the paediatric population in China.