A community-based study of chronic kidney disease among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan

Abstract 

Diabetic nephropathy is the major cause of end-stage renal disease. Many studies show that chronic kidney disease can be prevented, or its progression to end-stage renal disease delayed, by effective intervention. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of proteinuria and renal impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes. A community-based screening for chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients was conducted in 1999–2001. Proteinuria was defined in terms of urine protein-to-creatinine ratio. The glomerular filtration rate per 1.73m² body surface area was calculated using an equation from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study. The overall response rate was about 78.6%. Prevalence rates of proteinuria and renal impairment were 29.4% and 15.1%, respectively. Females had higher prevalence of proteinuria and renal impairment than males. And prevalence increased with increasing age. Hypertension was associated with both proteinuria and renal impairment. Only 43.0% of patients with stages 3–5 chronic kidney disease had proteinuria. Proteinuria and renal impairment screening may identify different segments of the diabetic population. Both a glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria test are recommended as screening tools for early detection of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetics.

Keywords: Proteinuria, Renal impairment, Type 2 diabetes mellitus