The PR interval and QRS duration could be predictors of renal function decline

•We examined whether PR interval was related to renal function decline.•We also examined whether QRS duration was related to renal function decline.•We performed this study in the healthy subjects.•PR interval and QRS duration were independent predictors of renal function decline.

ObjectivePrevious studies have implicated PR interval (iPR) and QRS duration (dQRS) obtained by electrocardiography in independent predictors of cardiovascular disease, which often precedes renal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to examine whether iPR or dQRS could be a predictor of renal function decline in a community-based cohort.MethodsWe enrolled 1149 healthy subjects, and retrospectively evaluated the relationships between iPR or dQRS and renal function decline, observation period of which was 3 years, and assessed whether iPR or dQRS could predict renal function decline.ResultsThe iPR (r = −0.102, p = 0.0006) or dQRS (r = −0.097, p = 0.0010) was negatively associated with a rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Multiple regression analyses revealed that iPR (β = −0.095, p = 0.0023) or dQRS (β = −0.069, p = 0.0351) was an independent determinant of the rate of decline in eGFR after adjustment for covariates. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the longest iPR (odds ratios (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.49 to 2.76; p < 0.0001) or dQRS (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.25; p = 0.0043) tertile showed an increased OR for prevalence of the rate of decline in eGFR ≤ 1 ml/min/1.73 m2/year compared to the shortest iPR or dQRS tertile after adjustment for covariates.ConclusionThe iPR and dQRS could be independent predictors of renal function decline in healthy subjects.