Tuesday, 28 October 2025

Influence of Age, Body Mass Index, and Biochemical Parameters on Renal Function in a Rural Indian Cohort | Chapter 2 | Medical Science: Recent Advances and Applications Vol. 12

 

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant and growing global health concern, affecting approximately 9.1% of the world's population, with substantial variation across regions and populations. Renal function serves as a critical marker of systemic health, influenced by both physiological ageing and metabolic stress. Rural communities often exhibit unique risk factor profiles, including differences in diet, physical activity, healthcare access, and awareness, making it critical to generate localised evidence. However, limited data exist on how demographic and biochemical variables jointly impact kidney function in rural Indian populations.

 

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the influence of age, body mass index (BMI), and key biochemical indices on renal function within a rural Indian cohort.

 

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 individuals was conducted, analysing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) across age groups. Data were collected using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire to gather demographic details, medical history, and lifestyle factors. Pearson’s correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to explore associations between renal function and demographic/biochemical predictors. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

 

Results: The mean age was 59.7 ± 17.2 years, and the mean BMI was 24.5 ± 4.2 kg/m². A significant age-dependent decline in GFR was observed: from 131.2 mL/min in individuals <40 years to 62.1 mL/min in those >60 years. Strong negative correlations were found between age and GFR (r = - 0.71, p < 0.001) and between BMI and GFR (r = -0.35, p = 0.002), while BMI positively correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.29, p = 0.006). Age also showed a strong positive correlation with BUN (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, age (β = -0.56, p < 0.001), BMI (β = -0.28, p = 0.004), and bicarbonate levels (β = +0.31, p = 0.002) independently predicted GFR.

 

Conclusion: Age and BMI are strong, independent predictors of renal function decline in rural populations. Elevated bicarbonate levels appear to exert a protective effect. These findings underscore the need for age- and weight-adjusted screening protocols in low-resource settings to enable earlier intervention. Limitations of this study include its cross-sectional nature, which precludes causal inference, and potential confounders such as dietary habits and undiagnosed comorbidities that were not controlled. Future longitudinal studies with larger samples and inclusion of inflammatory markers are warranted to validate and extend these findings.

 

 

Author(s) Details

 

Shilpa Rattan
Biochemistry, SMVDIME, Kakryal, India.

 

B. Jahnavia
Biochemistry, MNR Medical College, Telangana, India.

 

Priya Duvedi
Biochemistry, SMVDIME, Kakryal, India.

 

Abid Manzoor
Physiology, SMVDIME, Kakryal, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v12/6245

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