Analysis of renal functions and proteinuria in young obese adults

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of obesity in young adults and to analyze the influencing factors on renal functions and proteinuria in this population. METHODS: This study comprised civil servants between 20 and 39 years old, who received physical examinations at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. The subjects were categorized into four groups based on age (20–24, 25–29, 30–34 and 35–39 years) and the number of risk factors they had (hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia). The relationships between obesity and the prevalence of proteinuria, between obesity and risk factors and between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 2293 young civil servants, in men the prevalence of obesity was 33.3 % and proteinuria was 2.5 %. However in women the prevalence of obesity and proteinuria was 7.5 % and 1.7 %, respectively. The levels of blood pressure, serum uric acid (UA), cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), fasting glucose (FBG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were lower and the level of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was higher in nonobese groups compared with obese groups. There were no significant differences in eGFR between the two groups. The eGFR in male subjects was associated with age, UA, body mass index (BMI), FBG, TC, TG, LDL and HDL, and in female subjects associated with UA, age, BMI, diastolic blood pressure, FBG and LDL. BMI in both males and females increased with the higher number of risk factors. Multiple regression analysis revealed that hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia were independently associated with obesity. eGFR decreased with a higher number of risk factors. Obesity, blood pressure, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia were independently associated with proteinuria. CONCLUSION: Obesity can pose an independent risk factor for proteinuria in young adults. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia were independently associated with obesity. eGFR decreased with a higher number of risk factors.