Impact of telomere length alteration in chronic kidney disease patients of Pakistan: a case–control study and meta-analysis of 24,089 patients

Key Points

• To assess the relationship between telomere length and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Pakistani population.
• Conducted a case-control study comparing telomere length in CKD patients and control group.
• Performed a meta-analysis involving 24,089 patients to evaluate telomere length's association with CKD.
• Analyzed population-specific effects and potential biological aging implications.
• Identified a significant association between altered telomere length and CKD prevalence.
• Indicated that telomere length may reflect systemic biological aging rather than serving solely as a biomarker.
• Longitudinal studies are needed to explore causality and effects specific to the population.