CKD Incidence Differs by Race in People With Diabetes

MONDAY, Nov. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A high incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) persists among U.S. patients with diabetes, with differences seen across racial and ethnic groups, according to a letter to the editor published in the Oct. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Katherine R. Tuttle, M.D., from Providence Inland Northwest Health in Spokane, Washington, and colleagues estimated the incidence of CKD among adults with diabetes (2015 to 2020) in two U.S. health care systems. The analysis included 654,459 adults (aged 20 years and older) with diabetes.

The researchers found that compared with White patients, the incidence of CKD was higher among Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander patients (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.56), Black patients (IRR, 1.41), American Indian or Alaska Native patients (IRR, 1.33), and Hispanic or Latinx patients (IRR, 1.25). However, the rate ratio was lower among Asian patients (IRR, 0.87). During the study period, the overall incidence of CKD declined from 81.6 cases per 1,000 person-years during 2015 and 2016 to 64.0 cases per 1,000 person-years during 2019 and 2020. This trend was seen across demographic subgroups of age, race and ethnic group, and sex.

"Given the rapidly growing population with diabetes in the United States and the corresponding high rates of kidney failure, the persistently high incidence of CKD marked by racial and ethnic disparities is troubling," Tuttle said in a statement. "Inclusive strategies for prevention, detection, and intervention are needed to reduce CKD risk in people with diabetes."

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