High serum bicarbonate level within the normal range prevents the progression of chronic kidney disease in elderly chronic kidney disease patients

Table 3 Hazard ratios for CKD progression according to baseline characteristics

	Model 1	Model 2	Model 3	Model 4
Serum bicarbonate level (1 mEq/l increase)	0.820 (0.735, 0.915)	0.816 (0.720, 0.924)	0.811 (0.700, 0.940)	0.791 (0.684, 0.914)
Low-bicarbonate group (ref. control group)	2.814 (1.539, 5.145)	3.310 (1.570, 6.978)	2.514 (1.068, 5.918)	3.511 (1.342, 9.186)

Values are given as HRs (95% confidence interval). Adjusted variables in four Cox proportional hazard models are as follows: Model 1, variables in univariate Cox proportional hazard model; Model 2, adjusted for variables in model 1 and variables associated with patient demographics, namely, age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, and BMI; Model 3, adjusted for variables in model 2 and variables associated with laboratory variables, namely, eGFR, serum albumin, sodium, and potassium levels, and 24-hour urine protein excretion level; Model 4, adjusted for variables in model 3 and variables associated with the use of medications, namely, RAAS inhibitors, loop diuretics, and sodium bicarbonate.
Abbreviations: ref Reference, BMI Body mass index, eGFR Estimated glomerular filtration rate, RAAS Renin angiotensin aldosterone system.

ISSN: 1471-2369