Arterial Stiffness Is More Associated with Albuminuria than Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The REBOUND Study

Albuminuria: An Underappreciated Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease

Albuminuria, an established biomarker of the progression of chronic kidney disease, is also recognized as a biomarker for the risk of cardiovascular disease. Elevated urinary albumin excretion indicates kidney damage and systemic vascular disease, including myocardial capillary disease and arterial stiffness. Albuminuria is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmias, and microvascular disease. There are now several therapeutic agents that can lead to albuminuria lowering and a reduction in cardiovascular risk. However, screening for albuminuria is still low. Considering the importance of multidisciplinary management of patients with cardiovascular disease, it is crucial that health care professionals managing such patients are aware of the benefits of albuminuria surveillance and management.

The Relationship between Vascular Aging Phenotypes and Renal Damage among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vascular aging (VA) phenotypes and renal damage in type 2 diabetic population.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we included 8,141 individuals with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Kailuan Study during 2010-2018 and completed the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) assessment for arterial stiffness, an indicator for VA. The age- and sex-specific 10th and 90th percentiles of baPWV based on a reference cohort were used as cutoffs to define supernormal VA (SUPERNOVA, baPWV<10th percentiles), normal VA (NVA, baPWV 10th to 90th percentiles), and early VA (EVA, baPWV>90th percentiles). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria levels were used to assess renal damage, including isolated proteinuria, isolated kidney function decline (eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m2), and proteinuria combined with kidney function decline. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between VA phenotypes and diabetic kidney damage.

RESULTS

The prevalences of isolated proteinuria, isolated kidney function decline, and proteinuria combined with kidney function decline were 17.0%, 12.2%, and 5.4%, respectively. Compared with NVA, SUPERNOVA was associated with 34% lower odds (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-0.96) of isolated proteinuria after adjusting for age, sex, and other potential confounders. EVA was associated with higher odds of all three types of kidney damage; the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) was 1.42 (1.20-1.67) for proteinuria, 1.24 (1.01-1.51) for kidney function decline, and 1.56 (1.18-2.06) for proteinuria combined with kidney function decline.

CONCLUSIONS

VA phenotypes are associated with renal damage, especially isolated proteinuria. SUPERNOVA was associated with lower odds of isolated proteinuria and EVA was associated with higher odds of proteinuria and kidney function decline.

Comparison of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in association with albuminuria in a community of Beijing: a cross-sectional study

This study was performed to investigate and compare the association of albuminuria with the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in a community-based population in Beijing. Subjects were enrolled from a follow-up survey conducted in 2018 from an atherosclerosis cohort in Shijingshan district, Beijing, China. The baPWV and cfPWV were measured using a BP-203 RPE III arteriosclerosis detection device and PulsePen, respectively. Albuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin-creatinine ratio of ≥30 mg/g. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the impacts of different PWV measurements on the prevalence of albuminuria. In total, 5605 subjects were included in the analyses. Their mean age was 62.22 ± 7.55 years, and the prevalence of albuminuria was 8.22%. In the multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for potential covariates, both baPWV (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.10; P < 0.001) and cfPWV (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14; P = 0.018) were significantly associated with albuminuria. Furthermore, when baPWV and cfPWV were entered into the logistic regression model simultaneously, only baPWV was significantly associated with albuminuria using either continuous value (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10; P = 0.007) or classified into quartiles (highest vs. lowest value group: OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.01-2.37; P for trend = 0.019). Both cfPWV and baPWV were positively associated with albuminuria, while baPWV had a stronger relationship than cfPWV. Thus, baPWV measurement could be considered for the purpose of community health screening.

Comparison of Nonalbuminuric and Albuminuric Diabetic Kidney Disease Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of most common complications of diabetes. Recently, the classical phenotype of DKD, which is characterized by albuminuria preceding renal insufficiency, has been challenged since a subset of diabetic patients with renal insufficiency but without albuminuria has been increasingly reported. However, the available evidence is inconsistent. Thus, the present systematic review will assess and summarize the available data regarding nonalbuminuric diabetic kidney disease (NADKD).

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for clinical trials related to NADKD. The results were limited to full-text articles published in English, without restrictions on the publication time. The quality of clinical trials was appraised, and the data were extracted. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. Descriptive analysis was performed if the data were insufficient.

RESULTS

A final total of 31 articles were included in this review. The meta-analysis of 18 studies showed that compared with albuminuric DKD, patients with NADKD were older (MD = 1.04 years old, 95% CI [0.52, 1.57], p < 0.05); were more often women (Male RR = 0.74, 95% CI [0.68, 0.81], p < 0.05); had shorter diabetes duration (MD = -2.9 years, 95% CI [-3.63, -2.18], p < 0.05), lower HbA1c levels (MD = -0.34%, 95% CI [-0.42, -0.25], p < 0.05), and lower blood pressure (systolic blood pressure MD = -6.21 mmHg, 95% CI [-9.41, -3.0], p < 0.05; diastolic blood pressure MD = -1.27 mmHg, 95% CI [-2.15, 4.0], p < 0.05); less frequently experienced diabetic retinopathy (RR = 0.58, 95% CI [0.51, 0.67], p < 0.05); and less frequently used renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors. The underlying pathology of NADKD might be different from that of the classic phenotype of DKD, which is associated with more advanced tubulointerstitial and vascular lesions but mild typical glomerular lesions. The annual estimated glomerular filtration rate decline tended to be lower in patients with NADKD than in those with albuminuric DKD. The risk for cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, and all-cause death was lower for patients with NADKD than patients with albuminuric DKD.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of NADKD has increased in recent decades, and its characteristics, pathology, and prognosis are different from those of albuminuric DKD; thus, diagnosis and treatment strategies should be different. More attention should be given to this phenotype.

Early renal and vascular damage within the normoalbuminuria condition

OBJECTIVE

A continuous association between albuminuria and cardiorenal risk exists further below moderately increased albuminuria ranges. If only based in albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) higher than 30 mg/g, a significant percentage of individuals may be out of the scope for therapeutic management. Despite epidemiological outcomes, the identification of biochemical changes linked to early albuminuria is underexplored, and normoalbuminuric individuals are usually considered at no risk in clinical practice. Here, we aimed to identify early molecular alterations behind albuminuria development.

METHODS

Hypertensive patients under renin-angiotensin system (RAS) suppression were classified as control, (ACR < 10 mg/g) or high-normal (ACR = 10-30 mg/g). Urinary protein alterations were quantified and confirmed by untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry. Coordinated protein responses with biological significance in albuminuria development were investigated. Immunohistochemistry assays were performed in human kidney and arterial tissue to in situ evaluate the associated damage.

RESULTS

A total of 2663 identified proteins reflect inflammation, immune response, ion transport and lipids metabolism (P value ≤ 0.01). A1AT, VTDB and KNG1 varied in high-normal individuals (P value < 0.05), correlated with ACR and associated with the high-normal condition (odds ratio of 20.76, 6.00 and 7.04 were found, respectively (P value < 0.001)). After 12 months, protein variations persist and aggravate in progressors to moderately increased albuminuria. At tissue level, differential protein expression was found in kidney from individuals with moderately increased albuminuria and atherosclerotic aortas for the three proteins, confirming their capacity to reflect subclinical organ damage.

CONCLUSION

Early renal and vascular damage is molecularly evidenced within the normoalbuminuria condition.

Associations between macrovascular and renal microvascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetes and non-diabetes: the HELIUS study

BACKGROUND

Although the associations between measures of macrovascular and microvascular dysfunctions are well characterized in diabetes, there is limited data on these associations in individuals without diabetes. We compared the associations between macrovascular dysfunction and renal microvascular dysfunction in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and without diabetes.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the multiethnic Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), including 986 participants with T2D and 7680 participants without diabetes were done. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between macrovascular dysfunction [aortic stiffness, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and stroke] and renal microvascular dysfunction [albuminuria] with adjustments for age, sex, ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, and smoking (and HbA1c and diabetes duration for the T2D group).

RESULTS

In the fully adjusted models, aortic stiffness was associated with albuminuria in individuals with T2D [OR 2.55; 95% CI,1.30-4.98], but not without diabetes [0.96; 0.63-1.45]; stroke was associated with albuminuria in T2D [2.40;1.10-5.25], but not in non-diabetes [1.39;0.83-2.33]. In age-sex adjusted models, CAD was associated with albuminuria in T2D [1.65;1.09-2.50] and in non-diabetes [1.56;1.13-2.15]; the associations were no longer significant in the fully adjusted model. There were no associations between PAD and albuminuria in T2D and non-diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows important differences in the associations between measures of macrovascular and renal microvascular dysfunction in T2D and non-diabetes. These findings provide opportunities for future research aimed at prevention and treatment strategies for individuals with vascular dysfunction.

Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor for risk of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the REBOUND study

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as a noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness for the prediction of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This multicenter prospective observational study analyzed 2308 patients with type 2 diabetes between 2008 and 2018. The patients were categorized according to the quartiles of baPWV. Cause of mortality was determined using death certificates and patient clinical records. We estimated proportional mortality rates from all causes, cardiovascular, cancer, and other causes among adults with diabetic status according to their baPWV. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

Results

There were 199 deaths (8.6%) in the study population during a median follow-up duration of 8.6 years. When baPWV was assessed as quartiles, a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 5.39, P < 0.001), cardiovascular-mortality (HR = 14.89, P < 0.001), cancer-mortality (HR = 5.42, P < 0.001), and other-cause mortality (HR = 4.12, P < 0.001) was found in quartile 4 (Q4, ≥ 1830 cm/s) than in quartiles 1–3 (Q1–3). Adding baPWV to baseline model containing conventional risk factors such as age, sex, diabetes duration, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, smoking, and insulin improved the risk prediction for all-cause (net reclassification index (NRI) = 49%, P < 0.001) and cause-specific (cardiovascular NRI = 28%, P = 0.030; cancer NRI = 55%, P < 0.001; other-cause NRI 51%, P < 0.001) mortality.

Conclusion

This long-term, large-scale, multicenter prospective observational cohort study provide evidence that increased arterial stiffness, as measured by baPWV, predicts the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in type 2 diabetes, supporting the prognostic utility of baPWV.

Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), KCT 0005010. Retrospectively Registered May 12, 2020. https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=16677

HbA1c variability and long-term glycemic control are linked to diabetic retinopathy and glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 1 diabetes and multiethnic background

AIM

To evaluate the associations between HbA1c variability and long-term glycemic control with microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients and multiethnic background.

METHODS

T1D adults with ≥10 years of follow-up and ≥ 2 HbA1c measurements were included. Glycemic variability was evaluated by the standard deviation (HbA1c-SD), and coefficient of variation (HbA1c-CV), and glycemic control by mean HbA1c over 10 years. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), increased urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and reduced glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were diagnosed. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) was diagnosed by cardiac reflex tests. Associations between glycemic parameters with complications were assessed by multivariate logistic regressions.

RESULTS

220 patients were included. Simultaneously adjusted for each other, mean HbA1c was independently associated with DR (OR: 2.82; 95%CI: 1.45-5.50), increased UAER (OR: 1.97; 95%CI: 1.14-3.09) and CAN (OR: 4.42; 95%CI: 1.45-13.51); whereas HbA1c-CV was independently associated with DR (OR: 8.93; 95%CI: 1.86-42.87) and reduced eGFR (OR: 7.02; 95%CI: 1.47-35.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term glycemic control was associated with DR, increased UAER and CAN, while glycemic variability was additionally associated with DR and impaired renal function; suggesting that both good and stable glycemic status might be important to prevent microvascular complications in T1D patients and multiethnic background.

Secular changes in clinical manifestations of kidney disease among Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes from 1996 to 2014

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Diabetic kidney disease is characterized by increased albuminuria and/or a reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We analyzed secular changes in the prevalence of albuminuria and reduced estimated GFR (eGFR) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, and identified factors associated with these changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2014 cohort data from the Japanese serial cross-sectional studies conducted at Shiga University of Medical Science, secular changes in the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (albuminuria and/or reduced eGFR), patient characteristics and their associations were analyzed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria decreased over time, whereas the prevalence of moderately reduced eGFR (30-60 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) and severely reduced eGFR (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) increased. Severely reduced eGFR was observed mainly in the patients with macroalbuminuria, regardless of year. Conversely, the prevalence of moderately reduced eGFR increased in the patients without macroalbuminuria. Both macroalbuminuria and moderately reduced eGFR without macroalbuminuria in the 2014 cohort were refractory to the recently recommended intensive therapy. Finally, we showed that obesity accompanied by vascular dysfunction was a risk factor for the development of albuminuria, and that age-dependent arterial stiffness was associated with reduced eGFR without macroalbuminuria in the 2014 cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

During the past 20 years in Japan, the prevalence of albuminuria declined, whereas that of reduced eGFR increased. Additionally, obesity- and high age-related vascular damage seems to be associated with macroalbuminuria and reduced eGFR without macroalbuminuria, respectively.