New research suggests patients with COPD have an increased risk of renal impairment and renal failure.
In patients with COPD, decreases in estimated glomerular filtration rates were more indicative of chronic renal failure than serum creatinine levels.
The study included 136 participants with COPD (who were divided into 2 groups according to a combined assessment) and 104 controls. The researchers compared the clinical factors, renal function, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and spirometry data of the groups.
The COPD groups had significantly worse renal function and significantly decreased glomerular filtration rates compared with the placebo group. The COPD groups also had a greater percentage of participants with concealed chronic renal failure compared with the placebo group.
The 2nd COPD group had a significantly higher percentage of concealed chronic renal failure compared with the 1st COPD group and the control group. In all 3 groups, the percentages of participants with concealed chronic renal failure were greater than those with overt chronic renal failure.
