Abstract
Introduction Smoking is harmful, and its cessation is recommended to prevent chronic kidney disease, which often begins with abnormal leakage of albumin in the urine, called albuminuria. Smoking cessation’s effect on albuminuria depends on the pack-years smoked, length of abstinence, body mass index (BMI) and glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb A1c). Using the UK Biobank data, we examined the relationship between these cardiorenal variables and albuminuria.Methods For this study, we selected a UK Biobank cohort with urinary albumin concentration (UAC) in the first and second visits. Participants were divided into progressor and regressor groups, where progressors were defined as those with increased UAC value, and regressors were those with decreased UAC value. Three different logistic regression models were fitted. In model 1, with a cohort design, we explored the impact of a change in age, Hb A1c and BMI between the first and second visits and the UAC. In model 2 and 3, in a cross-sectional design, we explored which cardiorenal risk factors were associated with a rise or fall of UAC at the time point of the second visit. Results are expressed in OR and 95% CI.Results The prevalence of albuminuria was highest in ex-smokers who started smoking between the ages of 13 and 18. With a mean duration of 51 months, there was no statistically significant relationship between smoking status and BMI with albuminuria. Each year of ageing and each unit of increase in Hb A1c (mmol/mol) increased the odds of progression of albuminuria by 20% and 3%, respectively. In ex-smokers, at the time point of the second visit, each year of smoking increased, and each year of abstinence decreased the odds by 4% and 6%, respectively.Conclusion Smokers should be supported to stop smoking and remain abstinent despite short-term weight gain. Childhood smoking should be actively discouraged.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | e000172 |
Journal | BMJ Public Health |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 25 Nov 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 Nov 2023 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsThe lead author would like to acknowledge the contribution from Professor Tim Coleman (University of Nottingham) and Professor Sarah Wild (University of Edinburgh), who were the examiners of his doctorate and contributed to this paper. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 61894. The University of Sheffield funded the publication cost for this study. For open access, the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any author accepted manuscript version arising.