Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing public health problem. However, there have been limited data on the trend of CKD prevalence, along with the changes of health-related behaviors and other chronic diseases in an adult Korean population.
Methods: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005 and 2007 were analyzed. The study subjects comprised 8400 participants aged ≥ 20 years with creatinine data. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min/1.73m(2). GFR was estimated by the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation.
Results: The CKD prevalence was significantly decreased from 2005 to 2007 (8.8 versus 7.2%; P = 0.010). The prevalence of hypertension was stable but that of diabetes was increased. The proportion of blood pressure (BP) <130/80 mmHg in the whole population, and HbA1c <7% in the diabetic participants was increased from 2005 to 2007. Participants in 2007 walked more than those in 2005. The proportion of current smoking and sodium/energy/protein excess was decreased from 2005 to 2007. In subgroup analysis, only hypertensive participants without diabetes revealed a decreasing trend of CKD.
Conclusions: The CKD prevalence was decreased from 2005 to 2007. Since increased diabetes and improved diabetic control neutralized their impact on CKD, improved BP was the fundamental reason for the decrease. Various health-related behaviors may have indirectly affected the decrease of CKD through their effect in controlling BP and diabetes.