Int J Med Sci 2019; 16(10):1328-1337. doi:10.7150/ijms.34274 This issue Cite
Research Paper
1. Department of Nephrology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, People's Republic of China
2. Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
3. Key Laboratory of Nephrology, National Health Commission and Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
4. Department of Ultrasonography, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, People's Republic of China
#Qing-xiu Huang and Jian-bo Li contributed equally to this work.
Background: Studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the association between circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between circulating OPG levels and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD.
Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched for eligible studies investigating the association between circulating OPG levels and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effects model.
Results: In all, 13 studies that included 2,895 patients with CKD were included in this analysis. According to the meta-analysis, patients with the highest circulating OPG level had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (7 studies; the adjusted HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.45 - 2.44) compared with patients with the lower circulating OPG level. An increase of 1 pmol/L in the circulating OPG level was associated with a 6% increased risk of all-cause mortality (7 studies; the adjusted HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.10). A subgroup analysis by dialysis methods suggested that an elevated circulating OPG level was independently associated with all-cause mortality in the HD only population.
Conclusion: Elevated circulating OPG levels independently predict an increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with CKD, especially in the HD only population.
Keywords: osteoprotegerin, all-cause mortality, chronic kidney disease, meta-analysis