Strategies for Proactive Health in People With Kidney Function Decline

Exploring Approaches for Proactive Health in People With Kidney Function Decline: Insights From a Prospective Cohort Study

This prospective cohort study aims to investigate how kidney function decline affects multiple body systems and how personalized nutrition can help maintain health and slow disease progression. About 1,800 adults with reduced kidney function but not on dialysis will be followed over time at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. The study will collect information on nutrition, heart and bone health, cognition, and daily functioning through hospital records and a patient mobile app. The goal is to understand the links between nutrition, metabolism, and organ function, and to develop integrated strategies for early prevention and management of chronic kidney disease.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Cognitive Dysfunction; Malnutrition; Frailty; Renal Insufficiency,Chronic; CKD-MBD - Chronic Kidney Disease Mineral and Bone Disorder; Dietary Intake Patterns

Detailed Description

Kidney function often declines gradually with age or chronic conditions, even before chronic kidney disease is formally diagnosed. This decline can disturb the body's overall balance, leading to changes in heart and blood vessel health, bone metabolism, muscle strength, and cognitive performance. Nutrition and metabolism play central roles in these processes, but how they interact during kidney function decline remains unclear.

This prospective cohort study, conducted at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, aims to understand the multisystem changes that occur during kidney function decline and to explore how individualized, nutrition-integrated management can help maintain health and slow disease progression. Approximately 1,800 adults with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 90 mL/min/1.73 m² and not receiving dialysis will be enrolled and followed for up to ten years.

Comprehensive information on participants' diet, biochemical markers, heart and bone health, cognition, and physical function will be collected through hospital systems and a mobile nutrition management app. The study seeks to identify how nutritional status and metabolic adaptation relate to outcomes such as kidney function decline, cardiovascular disease, frailty, and cognitive impairment. Findings from this research will help develop an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to prevent complications and improve the overall health and quality of life of people with reduced kidney function.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1800

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai Municipality
    • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 20040
      • Huashan Hospital, Fudan University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults aged 18 years or older with reduced kidney function (eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m²) who are not receiving dialysis. Participants are recruited from outpatient clinics at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1-5.
2. Aged 18 to 90 years, no restriction on gender.
3. Sufficient health literacy or a family member with adequate literacy to comply with dietary diary recording and other study procedures.
4. Stable primary disease of CKD at the time of enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with malignancies, severe cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, or severe hematological disorders.
2. Active infections (CRP >10 mg/L) or current use of nephrotoxic drugs.
3. Limb paralysis or amputation.
4. Use of immunosuppressants (cyclosporine, tacrolimus) within the past 3 months or steroid therapy equivalent to prednisone >10 mg/day.
5. Severe gastrointestinal diseases affecting nutrient absorption.
6. Participation in other diet- or drug-related clinical studies within the past month or ongoing.
7. Any other condition deemed inappropriate for participation by the investigators.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Patients with renal function decline (non-dialysis cohort); This is a multi-center prospective cohort study led by Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, with collaboration from several other hospitals. The study aims to recruit at least1800 participants, primarily older adults, with varying degrees of kidney function decline, with enrollment ongoing from January 2021 to December 2029. Participants undergo baseline assessments, including dietary intake surveys, biochemical and metabolic testing, body composition analysis, and clinical evaluations. Follow-up assessments are conducted at predetermined intervals to monitor kidney function, cardiovascular health, metabolic status, and overall well-being. This cohort provides a structured platform for long-term observational research on the relationship between nutrition, metabolism, and health outcomes in aging populations. The findings will support the development of precision nutrition strategies and proactive aging health management.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rapid decline in renal function	The primary outcome is the occurrence of a rapid decline in kidney function, defined as a ≥40% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline during the follow-up period. eGFR will be calculated using the CKD-EPI formula based on serum creatinine measurements obtained during scheduled clinical visits.	eGFR will be measured at baseline and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, and 36 months after enrollment, and subsequently every 6 months thereafter up to 10 years of follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)	The occurrence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), defined as initiation of renal replacement therapy, including maintenance dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) or receipt of kidney transplantation. ESRD events will be confirmed through clinical records and verified by treating nephrologists.	Assessed at baseline and every follow-up visit (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, and every 6 months thereafter up to 10 years).
Incidence of Cardiovascular Events	Composite incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, including coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. All events will be confirmed through medical records, imaging examinations, and classified according to international diagnostic standards.	Evaluated at baseline, at 6 months, at 1 year, and annually thereafter up to 10 years.
All-Cause Mortality	All-cause mortality includes death due to any cause, with a specific focus on deaths related to kidney disease progression and its complications, particularly cardiovascular disease, infections, and other related conditions. Deaths will be verified through medical records and official documentation.	Assessed at baseline and every follow-up visit (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, and every 6 months thereafter up to 10 years).
Cognitive Impairment	Cognitive function will be assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). MMSE scores <27 and MoCA scores <26 indicate cognitive impairment. Severity will be classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on standardized score ranges and adjusted for education level.	Evaluated at baseline, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, and every 2 years thereafter up to 10 years.
Frailty	Frailty will be determined using the Fried frailty phenotype, defined by the presence of three or more of the following criteria: unintentional weight loss (≥4.5 kg or ≥5% within one year), self-reported exhaustion, weakness (grip strength adjusted for sex and BMI), slow walking speed (adjusted for sex and height), and low physical activity level assessed by the Minnesota Leisure Time Activity Questionnaire.	Measured at baseline, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, and every 2 years thereafter up to 10 years.
Malnutrition and Protein-Energy Wasting (PEW)	Nutritional status will be evaluated according to both the GLIM criteria and the ISRNM definition of protein-energy wasting (PEW). GLIM diagnosis requires at least one phenotypic criterion (unintentional weight loss, low BMI, or reduced muscle mass by BIA or ultrasound) and one etiologic criterion (reduced food intake/absorption or disease burden/inflammation). PEW is defined by abnormalities in at least three of four domains: biochemical markers, body composition, muscle mass, and dietary intake, according to ISRNM standards.	Assessed at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, and every 12 months thereafter up to 10 years.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Huashan Hospital
• Collaborators: Jingan District Central Hospital of Shanghai (Jingan Branch of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University); Shanghai Changfeng community Healthcare center, Putuo, Shanghai, China
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jing Chen, PhD, MD, Huashan Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 24, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cohort Study; Health Outcomes; Dietary Assessment; Nutritional Intake; Kidney Function Decline
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Nutrition Disorders; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Metabolic Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Renal Insufficiency; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Parathyroid Diseases; Avitaminosis; Deficiency Diseases; Rickets; Calcium Metabolism Disorders; Vitamin D Deficiency; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary; Hyperparathyroidism; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Frailty; Malnutrition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: KY2023-973

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No