ABSTRACT
ObjectiveAutonomic dysfunction is a common and serious complication in patients with early chronic kidney disease （CKD）. Sweat gland dysfunction is an initial sign of autonomic dysfunction. Electrochemical skin conductance （ESC） measurement by reverse iontophoresis and chronoamperometry to assess sweat gland function may detect patients with mild renal insufficiency in healthy population for early intervention and treatment to delay further deterioration of renal function. MethodsAn EZSCAN score （0~100） was calculated using a proprietary algorithm based on the chronoamperometry analysis. A total of 6 661 subjects who received physical examination from the physical examination center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January to October 2020 were enrolled， including 2 075 （31.15%） subjects with reduced renal function （eGFR < 90 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2） as the case group and 4 586 （68.85%） subjects with normal renal function （90 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2≤ eGFR ≤120 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2） as the control group. Lasso regression was used to screen covariates， and the relationship between the risk score and eGFR was analyzed by loess curve and logistic regression. ResultsAfter multivariate adjustment， the risk score was correlated with the risk of eGFR decline. Compared with the group with the lowest risk value （Q1<24）， the OR（95%CI ）of Q2 （25-27）， Q3 （28-47）， and Q4 （48-75） were 1.85 （1.55， 2.21）， 2.53 （2.13， 3.00）， 2.49 （2.13， 2.93）， respectively. The maximum area under the ROC curve is 0.75（0.74，0.76）， the sensitivity is 73.98%， the specificity is 63%， the positive predictive value is 47.49%， the negative predictive value is 84.25%， and the Youden index is 0.369 72， the optimal cutoff value is 25. ConclusionsEZSCAN could be a useful screening tool to identify healthy individuals at increased risk of renal function decline， and the one with an EZSCAN score of more than 25% should undergo diagnostic laboratory testing.