Patients with psoriatic arthritis who developed chronic kidney disease did so over an average of 8.2 years, with diabetes and daily non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use emerging as key risk factors, according to a recent study.

In the cohort study, published in RMD Open, investigators examined the outcomes of 1,336 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and found that 9.2% of them had chronic kidney disease (CKD), with 79.7% developing the condition during follow-up. The study focused on evaluating the progression of CKD in patients with PsA, including long-term outcomes such as a sustained ≥ 40% reduction in baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which was observed in 50% of the 98 patients who developed CKD. Doubling of baseline creatinine was observed in 18.3% of these patients, and only two required renal replacement therapy because of eGFR falling below 15 mL/min/1.73 m².

The investigators identified several risk factors for CKD development, including diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.58, P < .001), kidney stones (HR = 2.14, P = .01), and daily use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (HR = 1.77, P = .02). Methotrexate use was associated with a protective effect against CKD development (HR = 0.51, P = .01). The findings suggested that managing comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension and limiting NSAID use may help reduce CKD risk in patients with PsA. Methotrexate use was associated with a protective effect against CKD, particularly when introduced early in the disease course.

The study emphasized the need for careful monitoring of kidney function in patients with PsA, especially those with additional risk factors. Early intervention and appropriate management of comorbidities could help preserve renal function in this patient population.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.