Chronic kidney disease and life expectancy

Abstract

Background: Life expectancy is commonly used as an indicator of health and reflects disease burden in the population. The life expectancy for patients with lower levels of kidney function has not been reported.

Methods: The abridged life table method was applied to calculate the life expectancies of men and women from age 30 to 85 years, by levels of kidney function as defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): ≥ 60, 45-59, 30-44 and 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

Results: Men and women aged 40 years had a life expectancy of 30.5 and 34.6 years at eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), 24.5 and 28.7 years at eGFR 45-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2), 14.5 and 16.5 years at eGFR 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and 10.4 and 9.1 years at eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively. Life expectancy was longer for women compared with men at all ages and eGFR categories, other than for eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m(2) where there was no difference in life expectancy by gender.

Conclusion: A lower level of kidney function is associated with a reduction in life expectancy for both men and women.