Glycaemic control and antidiabetic therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease - cross-sectional data from the German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) cohort

BMC Nephrol. 2016 Jun 11;17(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s12882-016-0273-z.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Little is known about practice patterns of anti-diabetic therapy in the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and correlates with glycaemic control. We therefore aimed to analyze current antidiabetic treatment and correlates of metabolic control in a large contemporary prospective cohort of patients with diabetes and CKD.

Methods: The German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study enrolled 5217 patients aged 18-74 years with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) or proteinuria >0.5 g/d. The use of diet prescription, oral anti-diabetic medication, and insulin was assessed at baseline. HbA1c, measured centrally, was the main outcome measure.

Results: At baseline, DM was present in 1842 patients (35 %) and the median HbA1C was 7.0 % (25(th)-75(th) percentile: 6.8-7.9 %), equalling 53 mmol/mol (51, 63); 24.2 % of patients received dietary treatment only, 25.5 % oral antidiabetic drugs but not insulin, 8.4 % oral antidiabetic drugs with insulin, and 41.8 % insulin alone. Metformin was used by 18.8 %. Factors associated with an HbA1C level >7.0 % (53 mmol/mol) were higher BMI (OR = 1.04 per increase of 1 kg/m(2), 95 % CI 1.02-1.06), hemoglobin (OR = 1.11 per increase of 1 g/dL, 95 % CI 1.04-1.18), treatment with insulin alone (OR = 5.63, 95 % CI 4.26-7.45) or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents (OR = 4.23, 95 % CI 2.77-6.46) but not monotherapy with metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, or glinides.

Conclusions: Within the GCKD cohort of patients with CKD stage 3 or overt proteinuria, antidiabetic treatment patterns were highly variable with a remarkably high proportion of more than 50 % receiving insulin-based therapies. Metabolic control was overall satisfactory, but insulin use was associated with higher HbA1C levels.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Diabetes mellitus; Glycaemic control; Hemoglobin A1C; Insulin therapy; Oral antidiabetic drugs.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Glycemic Index / drug effects*
  • Glycemic Index / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human