To explore the relationship between metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and albuminuria in the Chinese population.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2018 among residents aged 20 to 70 years in ten regions of eight provinces in China; all residents had lived in their region for more than 5 years. Various parameters were measured, included fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), blood lipids, renal function, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), etc. Data of 5 060 subjects meeting the criteria were included in the study. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 ml·min^-1·1.73 m^-2 or UACR≥30 mg/g. Albuminuria was defined as UACR≥30 mg/g. METS-IR was calculated and categorized into quartiles: Q1, METS-IR≤32.19; Q2, METS-IR 32.20-37.10; Q3, METS-IR 37.11-42.58; and Q4, METS-IR>42.58. The correlation between METS-IR and CKD and albuminuria was analyzed by binary logistic regression, and subgroup analyses were performed.

There were 1 266, 1 266, 1 265, and 1 263 participants included in Q1-Q4 groups, respectively. With the increase of METS-IR quartile, various parameters increased, including age, fasting blood glucose, HbA_1c, triglycerides, serum uric acid, waist circumference, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the proportion of males also increased (all P<0.05). The proportion of patients with CKD and albuminuria increased significantly with the increase in interquartile range (Q) of METS-IR (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that for every 1-unit increment of METS-IR, the risk of CKD and albuminuria were both increased by 2% [for both: odds ratio (OR)=1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.03]. Compared with the lowest METS-IR group (Q1), the ORs for CKD and albuminuria in the highest METS-IR group (Q4) were 1.57 (95%CI 1.17-2.10) and 1.46 (95%CI 1.09-1.96), respectively. In the subgroup analyses, increased METS-IR was significantly associated with CKD and albuminuria among women (CKD: OR=1.62, 95%CI 1.14-2.31; albuminuria: OR=1.53, 95%CI 1.07-2.18), individuals with HbA_1c<7% (OR=1.64, 95%CI 1.21-2.23; OR=1.55, 95%CI 1.14-2.11), individuals with eGFR≥90 ml·min^-1·1.73 m^-2 (OR=1.78, 95%CI 1.27-2.49; OR=1.80, 95%CI 1.28-2.53), and the Chinese Han population (OR=1.56, 95%CI 1.13-2.17; OR=1.41, 95%CI 1.01-1.96).

METS-IR is significantly associated with CKD and albuminuria in a Chinese population. Furthermore, the higher the METS-IR, the higher the risk of CKD and albuminuria.

Cross-Sectional studies; Albuminuria; Metabolic score for insulin resistance; Chronic kidney disease