Renal pathology and dyslipidemia commonly coexist. Treatments that lower albuminuria/ proteinuria may lower lipids, but it is not known whether lipid lowering independent of lessening albuminuria/proteinuria slows progression of kidney disease. We examined the association between LDL cholesterol levels and treatment with losartan on end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lipid levels and albuminuria measurements were obtained at baseline and at year 1 in a post hoc analysis from the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) study, which compared the effects of losartan-versus placebobased antihypertensive therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. LDL cholesterol lowering was associated with a lower risk of ESRD; however, this seemed to be largely an association with the reduction in albuminuria.
Diabetes Care 31:445-447, 2008A pproximately 60% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have dyslipidemia (1,2). Elevated LDL cholesterol may be associated with CKD progression (2); however, patients with normal renal function and dyslipidemia do not develop renal insufficiency (3). Treatments that reduce albuminuria and slow CKD progression commonly lower lipids. It is unclear whether lipid lowering itself, rather than as a result of reduced albuminuria, slows CKD progression.We investigated the relationship of LDL cholesterol and albuminuria at baseline and/or year 1 and treatment with losartan on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) study.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The RENAAL study evaluated losartan-versus placebo-based therapy in 1,513 patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy (4). This post hoc analysis included LDL cholesterol (5) and albuminuria measurements at baseline and year 1 before ESRD. Patients were encouraged to control protein and salt intake, but there were no instructions regarding lipid management.Changes from baseline to year 1 are reported as the absolute difference for LDL cholesterol and as the percentage of change in the geometric mean ratio for albuminuria. Stratification for LDL cholesterol at baseline (Ͻ2.59, Ͼ2.59 to Յ3.10, Ͼ3.10 to Յ3.62, Ͼ3.62 to Յ4.14, Ͼ4.14 to Յ4.65, and Ͼ4.65 mmol/l) was based on clinical judgment and sample size/stratum. Event rates were calculated as number of endpoints per 1,000 patient-years of follow-up. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), 95% CIs, and P values with LDL cholesterol Ͻ2.59 mmol/l as reference with/without adjustments for baseline albuminuria (log transformed), serum creatinine, serum albumin, and hemoglobin (6) and with/without additional adjustment for albuminuria at year 1. Similar analyses were done when treatment group was incorporated into the model with the placebo-administered LDL cholesterol increase group as reference. Change in albuminuria by group and by LDL cholesterol Ͻ and Ն3.10 mmol/l was assessed with adjustment for baseline albuminuria (log transformed), ...