Metabolic Constellations, Clusters, and Renal Function: Findings from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with decreased renal function and chronic kidney disease (CKD). To date, no research regarding the sixteen possible constellations resulting in the diagnosis of MetS has been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to report renal function in sixteen metabolic constellations grouped into four metabolic clusters. Individuals (n = 2767; representing 86,652,073 individuals) from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys who met the criteria for MetS were included. Sixteen possible constellations of three or more risk factors were analyzed for renal function. Four metabolic clusters representing MetS with hyperglycemia (Cluster I), MetS with hypertension (Cluster II), MetS with hyperglycemia and hypertension (Cluster III), or MetS with normoglycemia and normotension (Cluster IV) were assessed for renal function and CKD status. Cluster III had the highest odds of CKD (OR = 2.57, 95% CL = 1.79, 3.68). Clusters II and III had the lowest renal function and were not different from one another (87.82 and 87.28 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.71). The constellation with the lowest renal function consisted of hypertension, high triglycerides, and a large waist circumference (82.86 mL/min/1.73 m2), whereas the constellation with the highest renal function consisted of hyperglycemia, low HDL, and a large waist circumference (107.46 mL/min/1.73 m2). The sixteen constellations of MetS do not have the same effects on renal function. More research is needed to understand the relationship between the various iterations of MetS and renal function.