Lower prognostic nutritional index is associated with a greater decline in long-term kidney function in general population

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is an integrated index of serum albumin and peripheral lymphocyte count, where low values may reflect poor nutritional status or inflammation. The long-term effect of PNI on renal function is not well known in the general population. Therefore, we investigated whether the PNI is related to renal function changes in the general population.

Data from participants who underwent a health check-up between 2002 and 2018 were retrospectively examined. PNI was computed by 10×serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005×total lymphocyte count (per mm3). The primary exposure was PNI, divided into quintiles. The primary outcome was a 25% decline in eGFR from baseline over a 5-year follow-up period.

This study included 15,437 participants (mean [standard deviation, SD] age, 43.7 [7.9] years; 46% male). The median (interquartile ranges) 5-year change of eGFR was − 5.2 (− 18.8, − 3.3) mL/min/1.73m². A total of 2,272 participants (14.7%) experienced a 25% decline in eGFR at 5 years. Compared to the highest PNI group, lower PNI groups were at greater risk for a 25% decline in eGFR; odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.42 (1.20, 1.68), 1.23 (1.04, 1.45), 1.21 (1.03, 1.43), and 1.19 (1.01, 1.40) for the first to fourth quintiles of PNI, respectively. In linear regression analyses, lower PNI groups also showed a larger decline in eGFR over 5 years compared to the highest PNI group.

Lower PNI was associated with a larger decline in renal function in the general population.