Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease Risk Elevated in Certain Oophorectomy Patients

The risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be higher in women who undergo premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy, especially those age 45 years and younger, according to the results of a recent study.

The risk persisted even after adjustment for multiple chronic conditions and other potential confounders.

Mortality and morbidity risk are elevated in women who undergo premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy, and because of the potential benefits of estrogen on kidney function, the researchers hypothesized that these women may also be at an increased risk for CKD.

They conducted a population-based cohort study involving 1653 women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy prior to age 50 years and the onset of menopause from 1988 to 2007. The women were matched to 1653 referent women by age.

CKD was defined using eGFR (eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 on two occasions >90 days apart), and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models. The analyses were adjusted for the presence of 17 chronic conditions, race, education, body mass index, smoking, age, and calendar year.

Overall, women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy had higher risk of eGFR-based CKD (HR 1.42). In those who underwent bilateral oophorectomy at age 45 or younger, the risk was greater (HR 1.59).

“Premenopausal women who undergo bilateral oophorectomy, particularly those ≤45 years old, are at higher risk of developing CKD, even after adjusting for multiple chronic conditions and other possible confounders present at index date.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Kattah AG, Smith CY, Rocca LG, et al. CKD in Patients with bilateral oophorectomy [published online September 2018]. CJASN. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.03990318