Disparities in ethnicity and metabolic disease burden in referrals to nephrology.

Introduction: The profile of patients referred from primary to tertiary nephrology care is unclear. Ethnic Malay patients have the highest incidence and prevalence of kidney failure in Singapore. We hypothesised that there is a Malay predominance among patients referred to nephrology due to a higher burden of metabolic disease in this ethnic group. Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study. From 2014 to 2018, a coordinator and physician triaged patients referred from primary care, and determined co-management and assignment to nephrology clinics. Key disease parameters were collated on triage and analysed. Results: A total of 6,017 patients were studied. The mean age of patients was 64 ± 16 years. They comprised 57% men; 67% were Chinese and 22% were Malay. The proportion of Malay patients is higher than the proportion of Malays in the general population (13.4%) and they were more likely than other ethnicities to have ≥3 comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery disease and stroke (70% vs. 57%, P < 0.001). Malay and Indian patients had poorer control of diabetes mellitus compared to other ethnicities (glycated haemoglobin 7.8% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001). Higher proportion of Malay patients compared to other ethnicities had worse kidney function with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 on presentation (28% vs. 24%, P = 0.003). More ethnic Malay, Indian and younger patients missed appointments. Conclusion: A disproportionately large number of Malay patients are referred for kidney disease. These patients have higher metabolic disease burden, tend to miss appointments and are referred at lower eGFR. Reasons underpinning these associations should be identified to facilitate efforts for targeting this at-risk population, ensuring kidney health for all.

Association Between Metformin and Sulfonylurea Monotherapies and Cancer Incidence: A Real-World Cohort Study in Shanghai, China.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of cancer. The use of antidiabetic medication (ADM) may play an important role in the cancer development. The relationship between oral ADM and cancer incidence has not been investigated in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in mainland China yet. METHODS: A community-based diabetes cohort was extracted from the Shanghai Community Diabetes Management System database, which is a patient registry from general practices. The cohort included 2353 newly onset type 2 diabetes mellitus patients from 2006 to 2010 aged 35 years or more. Patients were grouped into nonusers of antidiabetic medication (n = 722), metformin monotherapy (n = 374), sulfonylurea monotherapy (n = 653), metformin and sulfonylurea combination therapy (n = 302), and other medication therapies (n = 302) on the basis of initial treatment type at registry entry. Cancer incidence was identified from the Shanghai Cancer Registry Organization. Comparisons between monotherapy and nonuser of medication were conducted using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 94 cancer cases were identified during 5 years median follow-up. Compared with nonusers, sulfonylurea monotherapy was associated with significantly lower risk of cancer [adjusted HR = 0.50 (95% CI 0.29-0.85)] whereas risk was 49% lower with metformin monotherapy [adjusted HR = 0.51 (95% CI 0.27-0.99)]. CONCLUSION: The real-world evidence suggested that the use of metformin or sulfonylurea was associated with lower risk of cancer incidence in a cohort of newly onset type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.