Metabolic Syndrome Increases Kidney Disease Risk in Elderly

Metabolic syndrome is what fat people get.

People aged 65 years and older with metabolic syndrome are at greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and those with increasing insulin resistance alone risk rapid loss of renal function and CKD, according to a study published online February 15 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Hui-Teng Cheng, MD, from the Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, Hsin-Chu Branch, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, and colleagues followed-up 1456 patients aged 65 years and older, 39% of whom had metabolic syndrome, for an average of 3 years to determine the effect of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance on kidney function in the elderly. Earlier research has shown a relationship between metabolic syndrome and CKD in middle age, but such studies have not been conducted in the elderly, the authors report.

"Our study found that metabolic syndrome predicts both the prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney disease in people aged 65 years or older," lead investigator Chung-Jen Yen, MD, from the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, said in a news release. "We also found that rapid decline in renal function is more likely found in individuals with insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels."

Weight loss or dialysis or kidney transplant?

Your choice, fatsos.