Kidney research based on the Tromsø Study
The Tromsø Study is a general population cohort study consisting of repeated health surveys since 1974 (see here for a detailed description: https://uit.no/research/tromsoundersokelsen?p_document_id=705235&Baseurl=/research/ ). Our group has collected data to classify and study the causes and consequences of low-grade chronic kidney disease (CKD), including urinary albumin-creatinine ratio, serum creatinine and cystatin C, in four surveys since 1995.
Various research groups have attained a multitude of other variables, including questionnaire data, clinical measurements and various biomarkers.
CKD is among the few chronic, non-communicable diseases that exhibits a worsening global health problem in terms of increasing prevalence and adverse consequences. In particular, CKD infers a high risk of cardiovascular disease. Simultaneously, the prevalence of its main causes, such old age, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity are changing. Thus, to ensure adequately dimensioned health services for people with CKD, changes in CKD incidence and prevalence should be followed. Simultaneously, outcome of CKD in a changing spectrum of risk factors needs to be monitored.
Moreover, causal factors that initiate kidney damage may be more diverse than those traditionally considered as renal risk factors, and in the Tromsø Study various measurements have been done that enables us to dig deeper into this topic, including virus serology and other urine and serum biomarkers.
CKD is still classified using estimated GFR and albuminuria, which are both late biomarkers of CKD. Earlier biomarkers, or panels of biomarkers, with high sensitivity and specificity, may contribute to early intervention and thus prevention of CKD and CKD related consequences.
Using data from the Tromsø Study, Tromsø4 – Tromsø7, alone and in collaboration with other UiT-based research groups, we study the relationships between metabolic syndrome, uric acid, other serum and urine biomarkers, and albuminuria as well as eGFR and clinical outcome. The long-term follow-up allows us to assess changes in biomarkers as predictors of outcome. Unfortunately, urine samples are not being collected in Tromsø8.
We have previously collaborated with the global CKD Prognosis Consortium (the collaboration has temporarily been terminated due to the GDPR regulations), and we are in the process of initiating a close collaboration with the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).
Ongoing projects:
- Urinary orosomucoid – a better predictor of cardiovascular and renal disease than albuminuria?
- Novel and established biomarkers of kidney damage and dysfunction in uncontrolled hypertension