#2437 Association between iron deficiency and risk of major events in chronic kidney disease—CKD-REIN Cohort
Authors: Rabiega Pascaline , Choukroun Gabriel , Baghdadi Yasmine , Cazaubon Elise , Frimat Luc , Stengel Benedicte 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

Iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but remains under-diagnosed and its prognosis poorly documented in the absence of anemia. Data from CKDopps showed low TSAT levels were associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and incidence of major cardiovascular events in patients with moderate to advanced CKD, an effect that was not modified by the presence of anemia [1]. Additionally, patients with both low TSAT and high ferritin levels displayed the highest risk of all-cause mortality.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between ID and the risk of major adverse outcomes in patients with CKD in France.

Method

Using data from the French CKD-REIN cohort which included and followed over 5 years, 3,033 nephrology outpatients with CKD stage 2 to 5 CKD [2], we estimated the prevalence of ID, defined by a ferritin level &lt; 100 mg/L and/or a transferrin saturation (TSAT) &lt; 20%, and associated hazard ratios (HR) of kidney failure with replacement therapy, kidney failure defined by an eGFR &lt; 15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 or initiation of kidney replacement therapy, all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization and death or hospitalization for heart failure. The analysis was conducted using a Cox model in which ID was included as a time-dependent variable and adjusted for identified confounders (socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and biological measures) and hemoglobin level.

Results

A total of 2 914 patients with at least one ferritin or TSAT measurement at baseline or during follow-up were included in the analysis. The majority were men (66%), with a mean age of 67 ± 13 years; 49.6%, 41.2%, and 9.2%, had CKD stage 2/3, 4, and 5, respectively. Baseline prevalence of ID in the cohort was 50% [48-52]. Mean hemoglobin was 13 ± 1.7 g/dL, and only 31% of patients with ID also had a hemoglobin &lt; 12 g/dL.

Of the 2 914 patients included in the analysis, 627 (22%) required dialysis or transplantation, and 382 (13%) died before kidney replacement therapy. The incidence rate of kidney failure with replacement therapy was 6.76 versus 3.53 per 100 person-years in patients with and without ID. ID was associated with significant increased risk of kidney failure with replacement therapy, with adjusted HRs for confounders and hemoglobin level of 1.51 [1.24-1.82] (Fig. 1).

A total of 836 patients (29%) progressed to kidney failure during the study period, and 341 (12%) died before this stage. The incidence rate of kidney failure was 8.66 versus 6.43 per 100 person-years in patients with and without ID. ID was associated with significant increased risk of kidney failure, with adjusted HRs for confounders and hemoglobin level of 1.19 [1.02-1.38] (Fig. 1).

Adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality, for all-cause hospitalization, and for hospitalization or death for heart failure, were 1.31 [1.04-1.66], 1.04 [0.93-1.15], and 1.38 [1.07-1.80], respectively (Fig. 2).

Conclusion

This study confirms that ID is common in patients with CKD and shows that ID is significantly associated with the risk for kidney failure, all-cause mortality, and heart failure, independent of the presence of anemia. An intervention trial would be needed to assess whether correction of this ID in CKD patients is associated with a reduction in associated risks.