Background: Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor physical function, less is known about the longitudinal association between CKD and the decline of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (BADL) among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods: Participants were part of the prospective observational University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging (n = 357). CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Primary outcomes were IADL and BADL decline defined as an increase in the number of activities for which participants reported difficulty after 2 years. Forward stepwise logistic regression was used to determine associations of baseline CKD and functional decline.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 77.4 (SD = 5.8) years, 41% were African American, and 52% women. IADL decline occurred in 35% of those with CKD and 17% of those without (unadjusted odds ratio, 2.62, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI], 1.59-4.30, p < .001). BADL decline occurred in 20% and 7% of those with and without CKD, respectively (unadjusted odds ratio, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.73-6.57; p < .001). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio's (95% CI's) for CKD-associated IADL and BADL decline were 1.83 (1.06-3.17, p =.030) and 2.46 (1.19-5.12, p = .016), respectively. CKD Stage ≥3B (estimated glomerular filtration rate <45 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) was associated with higher multivariable-adjusted odds of both IADL (3.12, 95% CI, 1.38-7.06, p = .006) and BADL (3.78, 95% CI, 1.36-9.77, p = .006) decline.
Conclusion: In community-dwelling older adults, CKD is associated with IADL and BADL decline.