The association between skinfold thicknesses and estimated glomerular filtration rate in adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Background: Obesity is one of the causes of glomerular hyperfiltration. Studies on the relationship between body fat content and glomerular hyperfiltration have been limited to special children. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between skinfold thickness, which represents body fat content, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 6655 participants (3532 boys and 3123 girls; age: 12 - 17.99 years); data was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2001-2010). The independent variables were subscapular skinfold thickness and triceps skinfold thickness. The dependent variable was eGFR. We used multivariate linear regression models to evaluate their associations and also performed subgroup analyses.

Results: After adjusting for age, standing height, race, family income, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid variables, multivariate regression analysis identified that triceps skinfold thickness and subscapular skinfold thickness were positively correlated with eGFR and glomerular hyperfiltration in boys. In subgroup analyses stratified by age and body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness was also associated with glomerular hyperfiltration in boys. There was a linear relationship between triceps skinfold thickness and eGFR in boys (β = 0.389, P < 0.001) and girls (β = 0.159, P = 0.0003).

Conclusions: Triceps skinfold thickness and subscapular skinfold thickness are positively correlated with eGFR and glomerular hyperfiltration in US male adolescents. In all adolescents, there is a linear relationship between triceps skinfold thickness and eGFR.