Clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-related kidney disease: A Jordanian population cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) increases the risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications, kidney disease progression, and mortality. We aimed to determine the incidence and risk of these outcomes according to DKD phenotype among the Jordanian population. METHODS: A total of 1172 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) of >30 ml/min/1.73 m2 were followed-up from 2019 to 2022. At baseline, patients were classified according to the presence of albuminuria (>30 mg/g creatinine) and reduced eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2) into four phenotypes: non-DKD (reference category), albuminuric DKD without decreased eGFR, non-albuminuric DKD with decreased eGFR, and albuminuric DKD with decreased eGFR. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 2.9 ± 0.4 years. Overall, 147 patients (12.5 %) experienced CV events, while 61 (5.2 %) demonstrated kidney disease progression (eGFR: <30 ml/min/1.73 m2). The mortality rate was 4.0 %. Multivariable-adjusted risk for CV events and mortality was greatest for the albuminuric DKD with decreased eGFR group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.45, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-2.33 and HR: 6.36, 95 % CI: 2.98-13.59, respectively), with the risk increasing when adjusted for prior CV history (HR: 1.47, 95 % CI: 1.06-3.42 and HR: 6.70, 95 % CI: 2.70-16.60, respectively). Risk of a ≥40 % decline in eGFR was greatest for the albuminuric DKD with decreased eGFR group (HR: 3.45, 95 % CI: 1.74-6.85), followed by the albuminuric DKD without decreased eGFR group (HR: 1.6, 95 % CI: 1.06-2.75). CONCLUSION: Thus, patients with albuminuric DKD and decreased eGFR were at greater risk for poor CV, renal, and mortality outcomes compared to other phenotypes.

Screening for Diabetes Complications during the COVID-19 Outbreak in South Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the implementation of diabetes complications screening in South Korea during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Data from the Korea Community Health Surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020 were used. This study included 51,471 participants. Multiple level analysis was used to investigate the relationships between screening for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy and variables of both individual- and community-level factors in 2019 and 2020, before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Diabetes nephropathy complications screening in 2020 had a lower odds ratio. However, regions heavily affected by COVID-19 showed a negative association with diabetes complications screening after the COVID-19 outbreak. For those being treated with medication for diabetes, there was a significant negative association with diabetic nephropathy screening after the outbreak. The COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a reduction in the use of diabetes nephropathy complications screening. Additionally, only regions heavily affected by COVID-19 spread showed a negative association with diabetes complications screening compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak. In this regard, it appears that many patients were unable to attend outpatient care due to COVID-19. As such, these patients should be encouraged to visit clinics for diabetes complications screening. Furthermore, alternative methods need to be developed to support these patients. Through these efforts, the development of diabetes-related complications should be prevented, and the costs associated with these complications will be reduced.

Pathophysiological Implication of Vitamin D in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is a hormone regulating not only calcium and phosphate homeostasis but also, at the same time, exerting many other extraskeletal functions via genomic effects (gene transcription) and probably by non-genomic effects as well. Availability is ensured by dietary intake of its precursors and by de novo production via sunlight. Yet, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are very common across the globe and are connected to many pathophysiological states, for example, diabetes mellitus, allergies, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy complications, and recently have also been associated with worse COVID-19 clinical outcomes. SUMMARY: In this review, we summarize current knowledge about vitamin D metabolism in general, its role in diabetes mellitus (mainly type 2) and diabetic complications (mainly diabetic kidney disease), and potential therapeutic perspectives including vitamin D signalling as a druggable target. Key Messages: Vitamin D is not only a vitamin but also a hormone involved in many physiological processes. Its insufficiency or deficiency can lead to many pathological states.