Increased non-HDL-C level linked with a rapid rate of renal function decline in HIV-infected patients

Background The risk of developing CKD is increased in HIV-infected patients; however, the relationship between renal function decline and lipid abnormalities currently remains unclear in these patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 661 HIV-infected patients, whose estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) were consecutively measured over 6 years. The rate of declines in eGFR per year was calculated, with decreases being evaluated using a linear mixed effect model. The distribution of decreases in eGFR ≥ 30 % from baseline during the follow-up period was compared across quartiles of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels using the Cochran–Armitage test. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to examine the relationship between dyslipidemia and decreases in eGFR. Results The prevalence of CKD increased from 8.5 to 21.2 % during the follow-up. The average of 6 annual eGFR decline rates was 2.01 ± 0.09 ml/min/1.73 m 2 /year, which was more than 6-fold higher than that of age-matched controls. The distribution of decreases in eGFR significantly increased across the quartiles of non-HDL-C ( p value for trend = 0.0359). Non-HDL-C levels greater than the median value of the cohort were identified as a significant risk factor for decreased eGFR [odds ratio (95 % confidence interval), 1.77 (1.07–3.00)]. Conclusion Increased non-HDL-C levels are a risk factor for renal function decline in HIV-infected patients.