# Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations of myocardial stress markers with kidney function and chronic kidney disease in the BiomarCaRE project

## TL;DR

This study shows that heart-related stress markers are linked to reduced kidney function and higher risk of chronic kidney disease.

## Contribution

The study identifies three CVD markers as potential biomarkers for CKD through large-scale cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

## Key findings

- Higher levels of MR-proADM, MR-proANP, and NT-proBNP are associated with lower eGFR and higher CKD prevalence.
- NT-proBNP is linked to faster eGFR decline and higher CKD incidence over 10 years.
- Associations between markers and eGFR are stronger in individuals with CVD and diabetes.

## Abstract

Given the complex relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), CVD-related markers may serve as CKD biomarkers. We examined associations of three major CVD-markers [mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), MR-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)] with CKD. Cross-sectional analyses included up to 61,830 participants, and longitudinal analyses (NT-proBNP only) 4205 individuals. Kidney function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using creatinine, cystatin C, or both (eGFRcr-cys). Markers were categorized into four groups. Cross-sectional analyses found that higher levels of all three markers were consistently associated with lower eGFR and higher CKD prevalence. For example, per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in log-transformed NT-proBNP, corresponding to a 2.71-fold increase in the original concentration, was associated with -2.35 (-2.49, -2.21) ml/min/1.73m2 lower eGFRcr-cys, and the highest NT-proBNP group had a 5.72-fold higher odds of CKDcr-cys (eGFRcr-cys < 60 ml/min/1.73m2) compared with the lowest. Associations with eGFR were stronger among participants with CVD and diabetes. In longitudinal analyses, participants with higher baseline NT-proBNP had faster declines in eGFR, with a 10-year decline of -1.37 (-1.77, -0.98) ml/min/1.73m2 eGFRcr-cys per 1 SD increase, and higher CKD incidence. These findings suggest MR-proADM, MR-proANP, and NT-proBNP as CKD biomarkers.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-37377-2.