ADIPOQ and chronic kidney disease: However, the negative correlation between serum adiponectin and CVD risk is converted to a positive correlation in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, because (i) pre-dialysis CKD patients show higher serum adiponectin due to impaired urinary adiponectin excretion3, and (ii) CKD is a definite CVD risk factor in the Japanese population4.