Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO1123

Growth Differentiation Factor 15, Survival, and Hospitalization in a National Dialysis Cohort

Session Information

• Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
  November 07, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

• 1500 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Authors

• Rhee, Connie, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Connie Rhee, MD, MS

• You, Seungsook, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Seungsook You, MS

• Brunelli, Steven M., DaVita Inc, Denver, Colorado, United States

Steven M. Brunelli, MD

• Narasaki, Yoko, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Yoko Narasaki, MS, PhD

• Duggan, Michael Patrick, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Michael Patrick Duggan, MD

• Horvath, Peter, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States

Peter Horvath, PhD

• Daza Aguilar, Andrea C., University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Andrea C. Daza Aguilar

• Siu, Man Kit Michael, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Man Kit Michael Siu, MD, MS

• Nguyen, Danh V., University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States

Danh V. Nguyen, PhD

• Kalantar-Zadeh, Kamyar, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, MD, DrMed, PhD, MPH, FASN

Background

Protein-energy wasting and cachexia are potent predictors of death in ESKD patients. In patients with malignancy, Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is associated with anorexia, weight and muscle loss, and higher mortality. Despite its well-established role as a nutritional marker, there is sparse data examining the association of circulating GDF15 levels with clinical outcomes in dialysis patients.

Methods

Among 512 dialysis patients from the national Biospecimen Registry Grant Program (BioReG) who underwent blood collections over 1/2008-12/2014, we examined associations of serum GDF15 levels with all-cause mortality using multivariable Cox regression. In secondary analyses, we examined the association of GDF15 levels with rates of hospitalization using multivariable Poisson regression.

Results

The mean±SD of age of the cohort was 60±14 years, among whom 55% were male, 42% were of Black race, and 12% were of Hispanic ethnicity. In expanded case-mix adjusted analyses, the highest GDF15 tertile (Tertile 3) was associated with higher death risk (ref: Tertile 1): HRs (95%CIs) 1.68 (1.06, 2.65). Similarly, those in Tertile 3 had higher rates of hospitalization compared to those in Tertile 1: IRRs (95%CIs) 1.23 (1.08, 1.41).

Conclusion

In a well-characterized national cohort of dialysis patients, higher GDF15 levels are associated with higher mortality and hospitalization risk. Future studies are needed to determine whether GDF15 may represent a novel therapeutic target for protein-energy wasting and adverse clinical outcomes in this population.

Funding

• Commercial Support – DaVita Clinical Research (no financial support; recipient of previous award to utilize cohort)

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• doi: 10.1681/ASN.2025en5775fv