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Objective: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing globally, and CKD is closely related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). CKD and CVD share several risk factors (RF), such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and smoking, and the prevalence of these RF has changed during the last decades, and we aimed to study the effect on renal function over time.

Design: Repeated cross-sectional population-based studies.

Setting: The two Northern counties (Norr- and Västerbotten) in Sweden.

Participants: Within the MONitoring Trends and Determinants of CArdiovascular Disease (MONICA) study, seven surveys were performed between 1986 and 2014, including participants aged 25-64 years (n=10 185).

Interventions: None.

Measures: Information on anthropometry, blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors was collected. Creatinine and cystatin C were analysed in stored blood samples and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using the creatinine-based Lund-Malmö revised and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (eGFR crea) equations as well as the cystatin C-based Caucasian, Asian, Paediatric and Adult cohort (CAPA) equation (eGFR cysC). Renal function over time was analysed using univariable and multivariable linear regression models.

Results: Renal function, both eGFR crea and eGFR cysC, decreased over time (both p<0.001) and differed between counties and sexes. In a multivariable analysis, study year remained inversely associated with both eGFR crea and eGFR cysC (both p<0.001) after adjustment for classical cardiovascular RF.

Conclusion: Renal function has deteriorated in Northern Sweden between 1986 and 2014.