Effects of daily alcohol intake on glomerular filtration rate over three years

BACKGROUND: The association between daily alcohol intake and changes in renal function in the Japanese general population is not well established. METHODS: We analyzed data from 150 residents who underwent specific health checkups held in Mishima Town in 2016 and 2019. We divided participants on the basis of alcohol consumption: residents with daily alcohol intake of < 20 g/day (the none-to-low group, n = 104, 69.3%); those with daily alcohol intake of ≥ 20 but < 40 g/day (the intermediate group, n = 30, 20.0%); and those with daily alcohol intake of ≥ 40 g/day (the high group, n = 16, 10.7%). We compared baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint was a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), defined as the decrease in eGFR greater than the median decrease over three years. RESULTS: The three-year changes in eGFR were +0.3 (−4.8, +3.0), −2.3 (−5.1, +1.2), and −4.9 (−8.2, −2.9) mL/min/1.73 m(2) in the none-to-low, intermediate, and high groups, respectively (P = 0.007). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a high amount of alcohol intake was independently associated with a decrease in eGFR, with adjusted odds ratio of 11.418 (95% confidence interval 1.554-83.879, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: A high average daily alcohol intake is associated with a decrease in eGFR.