Abstract
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of infection, but whether the risks are attenuated in different patient groups remains unclear. This study enrolled participants with CKD stages 1-3 in the New Taipei City Health Screening Program between 2005 and 2008. A proportional hazard regression model was employed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for infection-related hospitalization and mortality in younger (<50-year-old) and older (≥50-year-old) CKD patients. Of 119,871 adults, there were 14,207 cases of first hospitalization for infection during a median follow-up of 8.14 years; 45.5% of these cases were younger patients. Unlike CKD stage 1 and 2 patients, the risk of infection-related hospitalization in younger CKD stage 3 patients is as high as for older CKD stage 3 patients. Proteinuria increases the risk of infection-related hospitalization independent of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels in older CKD patients but this relationship is weak in their younger counterparts. In conclusion, the risk of infection-related hospitalization is high in subgroups of CKD patients. Prevention and treatment of infections in these patients merit more attention.