Cardiometabolic & kidneyCohort study
The role of inflammation in longitudinal renal function decline and incident chronic kidney disease: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis
- Prospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Elevated IL-6 predicts greater long-term eGFR decline, worsening albuminuria, and higher CKD risk.
Study context
- Population
- Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants with eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m² and IL-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measured at visit 14,680 (hsCRP), 4580 (IL-6)
- Exposure
- IL-6 and hsCRP tertiles
- Outcome
- Longitudinal change in eGFR and log(UACR) through visit 5; incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) through 2018
- Follow-up
- Median for incident CKD 16.8 years
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
IL-6 and renal outcomes
T3 vs T1Sub-hazard ratio (CI)P value
IL-6, incident CKD; Fine-Gray, competing mortality
1.65(1.23–2.20)
P = 0.001- IL-6
- difference in eGFR decline −0.32 mL/min/1.73m2/year (95% CI 0.23–0.42); P < 0.001
- IL-6
- difference in log[UACR] increase 6.67 × 10-3 unit/year (CI 2.95 × 10-3-10.39 × 10-3); P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
The role of inflammation in longitudinal renal function decline and incident chronic kidney disease: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 23 December 2025. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf779
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it