Impact of Race-Free Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimations on CKD Prevalence in the US Military Health System: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objective: The 2021 CKD-EPI removes Black race as a factor in calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We assessed its effect on CKD prevalence in the demographically-diverse US Military Health System. Study Design: A retrospective calculation of the eGFR from serum creatinine measured over 2016-2019 using both the 2009 and 2021 CKD-EPI equations. Setting & Population: Multicenter health care network with data from 1,502,607 adults in the complete case analysis and from 1,970,433 adults in an imputed race analysis. Predictors: Serum creatinine, age, sex, and race. Outcome: CKD stages 3-5, defined as the last eGFR persistently < 60 mL/min/1.73m2 for ≥90 days. Analytical Approach: The t test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for continuous variables and Χ2 for categorical data. Results: The population in the complete case analysis had a median age of 40 years and was 18.8% Black race and 35.4% female. With the 2021 equation, the number of Black adults with CKD stages 3-5 increased by 58.1% from 4,147 to 6,556, a change in the crude prevalence from 1.47% to 2.32%. The number of non-Black adults with CKD stages 3-5 decreased by 30.4% from 27,596 to 19,213, a crude prevalence change from 2.26% to 1.58%. Similar results were seen with race imputation. Cumulatively, among adults with CKD stages 3-5 by at least one equation, 45.8% of Black adults were reclassified to more advanced stages of CKD and 44.0% of non-Black adults were reclassified to less severe stages across eGFR thresholds that could change clinical management. Limitations: Potential underestimation of CKD in individuals with only 1 measurement. Conclusions: Adoption of the 2021 CKD-EPI equation in the Military Health System reclassifies many Black adults into new CKD stages 3-5 or into more advanced CKD stages, with the opposite effect on non-Black adults. This may have an effect on CKD treatment and outcomes in ways that are yet unknown.

Until recently, kidney function level was calculated from equations that adjusted the result if the individual was of Black race. Because this may contribute to racial disparities in kidney disease care, a new equation was developed in 2021 that excludes race as a factor. We assessed the possible effects of this equation using data from adults in the US Military Health System from 2016 to 2019. With the new equation, the number of Black adults classified with kidney disease increased while that of non-Black adults decreased. There were similar trends seen in the more severe levels of kidney disease, which could affect decisions in clinical care. These results emphasize the potential positive and negative outcomes to be monitored with the new equation.

Racial and economic segregation and diabetes mortality in the USA, 2016-2020.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between racial and economic segregation and diabetes mortality among US counties from 2016 to 2020. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional ecological study that combined county-level diabetes mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System and sociodemographic information drawn from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey (n=2380 counties in the USA). Racialized economic segregation was measured using the Index Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) for income (ICEincome), race (ICErace) and combined income and race (ICEcombined). ICE measures were categorised into quintiles, Q1 representing the highest concentration and Q5 the lowest concentration of low-income, non-Hispanic (NH) black and low-income NH black households, respectively. Diabetes was ascertained as the underlying cause of death. County-level covariates included the percentage of people aged ≥65 years, metropolitan designation and population size. Multilevel Poisson regression was used to estimate the adjusted mean mortality rate and adjusted risk ratios (aRR) comparing Q1 and Q5. RESULTS: Adjusted mean diabetes mortality rate was consistently greater in counties with higher concentrations of low-income (ICEincome) and low-income NH black households (ICEcombined). Compared with counties with the lowest concentration (Q1), counties with the highest concentration (Q5) of low-income (aRR 1.96; 95% CI 1.81 to 2.11 for ICEincome), NH black (aRR 1.32; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.47 for ICErace) and low-income NH black households (aRR 1.70; 95% CI 1.56 to 1.84 for ICEcombined) had greater diabetes mortality. CONCLUSION: Racial and economic segregation is associated with diabetes mortality across US counties.

Trends and Inequalities in Diabetes-Related Complications Among U.S. Adults, 2000-2020.

OBJECTIVE: We examined national trends in diabetes-related complications (heart failure [HF], myocardial infarction [MI], stroke, end-stage renal disease [ESRD], nontraumatic lower-extremity amputation [NLEA], and hyperglycemic crisis) among U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes during 2000-2020 by age-group, race and ethnicity, and sex. We also assessed trends in inequalities among those subgroups. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Hospitalization rates for diabetes-related complications among adults (≥18 years) were estimated using the 2000-2020 National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample. The incidence of diabetes-related ESRD was estimated using the United States Renal Data System. The number of U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes was estimated from the National Health Interview Survey. Annual percent change (APC) was estimated for assessment of trends. RESULTS: After declines in the early 2000s, hospitalization rates increased for HF (2012-2020 APC 3.9%, P < 0.001), stroke (2009-2020 APC 2.8%, P < 0.001), and NLEA (2009-2020 APC 5.9%, P < 0.001), while ESRD incidence increased (2010-2020 APC 1.0%, P = 0.044). Hyperglycemic crisis increased from 2000 to 2020 (APC 2.2%, P < 0.001). MI hospitalizations declined during 2000-2008 (APC -6.0%, P < 0.001) and were flat thereafter. On average, age inequalities declined for hospitalizations for HF, MI, stroke, and ESRD incidence but increased for hyperglycemic crisis. Sex inequalities increased on average for hospitalizations for stroke and NLEA and for ESRD incidence. Racial and ethnic inequalities declined during 2012-2020 for ESRD incidence but increased for HF, stroke, and hyperglycemic crisis. CONCLUSIONS: There was a continued increase of several complications in the past decade. Age, sex, and racial and ethnic inequalities have worsened for some complications.

Glycoprotein Acetyls Associate With Intraglomerular Hemodynamic Dysfunction, Albuminuria, Central Adiposity, and Insulin Resistance in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA's) are biomarkers of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease, yet little is known about their role in type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this study we examined the associations among GlycA's, central adiposity, insulin resistance, and early kidney injury in youth with T1D. METHODS: Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow by iohexol and p-aminohippurate clearance, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), central adiposity by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and estimated insulin sensitivity were assessed in 50 youth with T1D (16±3.0 years of age, 50% female, glycated hemoglobin 8.7%±1.3%, T1D duration 5.7±2.6 years). Concentrations of GlycA were quantified by targeted nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: GlycA's were higher in girls vs boys (1.05±0.26 vs 0.84±0.15 mmol/L, p=0.001) and in participants living with overweight/obesity vs normal weight (1.12±0.23 vs 0.87±0.20 mmol/L, p=0.0004). GlycA's correlated positively with estimated intraglomerular pressure (r=0.52, p=0.001), UACR (r=0.53, p<0.0001), and trunk mass (r=0.45, p=0.001), and inversely with estimated insulin sensitivity (r=-0.36, p=0.01). All relationships remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and glycated hemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: As biomarkers of inflammation, GlycA's were higher in girls and those with overweight or obese body habitus in T1D. GlycA's associated with parameters of early kidney dysfunction, central adiposity, and insulin resistance.

Physical Activity According to Diabetes and Metropolitan Status, U.S., 2020 and 2022.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity can reduce morbidity and mortality among adults with diabetes. Although rural disparities in physical activity exist among the general population, it is not known how these disparities manifest among adults with diabetes. METHODS: Data from the 2020 and 2022 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed in 2023 to assess the prevalence of meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations according to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans during leisure time. Physical activity prevalence was computed by diabetes status, type of physical activity, and urban/rural residence (large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan). Logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence and prevalence ratios of meeting physical activity recommendations by urban/rural residence across diabetes status. RESULTS: Among adults with diabetes in nonmetropolitan counties, only 23.8% met aerobic, 10.9% met muscle-strengthening, and 6.2% met both physical activity recommendations. By contrast, among adults with diabetes in large fringe metropolitan counties, 32.1% met aerobic, 19.7% met strengthening, and 12.0% met both guidelines. Multivariable adjusted prevalence of meeting muscle-strengthening recommendations was higher among participants with diabetes in large fringe metropolitan than among large central metropolitan counties (prevalence ratio=1.27; 95% CI=1.03, 1.56). Among those without diabetes, adjusted prevalence of meeting each recommendation or both was lower in nonmetropolitan and small/medium metropolitan than in large central metropolitan counties. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with diabetes are less likely to meet the physical activity recommendations than those without, and differences exist according to urban/rural status. Improving physical activity among rural residents with diabetes may mitigate disparities in diabetes-related mortality.

Assessing trends and variability in outpatient dual testing for chronic kidney disease with urine albumin and serum creatinine, 2009-2018: a retrospective cohort study in the Veterans Health Administration System.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous urine testing for albumin (UAlb) and serum creatinine (SCr), that is, 'dual testing,' is an accepted quality measure in the management of diabetes. As chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by both UAlb and SCr testing, this approach could be more widely adopted in kidney care. OBJECTIVE: We assessed time trends and facility-level variation in the performance of outpatient dual testing in the integrated Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND MAIN MEASURES: This retrospective cohort study included patients with any inpatient or outpatient visit to the VHA system during the period 2009-2018. Dual testing was defined as UAlb and SCr testing in the outpatient setting within a calendar year. We assessed time trends in dual testing by demographics, comorbidities, high-risk (eg, diabetes) specialty care and facilities. A generalised linear mixed-effects model was applied to explore individual and facility-level predictors of receiving dual testing. KEY RESULTS: We analysed data from approximately 6.9 million veterans per year. Dual testing increased, on average, from 17.4% to 21.2%, but varied substantially among VHA centres (0.3%-43.7% in 2018). Dual testing was strongly associated with diabetes (OR 10.4, 95% CI 10.3 to 10.5, p<0.0001) and not associated with VHA centre complexity level. However, among patients with high-risk conditions including diabetes, <50% received dual testing in any given year. As compared with white veterans, black veterans were less likely to be tested after adjusting for other individual and facility characteristics (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.93, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Dual testing for CKD in high-risk specialties is increasing but remains low. This appears primarily due to low rates of testing for albuminuria. Promoting dual testing in high-risk patients will help to improve disease management and patient outcomes.

Estimation of mortality rate ratios for chronic conditions with misclassification of disease status at death.

Estimation of mortality rates and mortality rate ratios (MRR) of diseased and non-diseased individuals is a core metric of disease impact used in chronic disease epidemiology. Estimation of mortality rates is often conducted through retrospective linkage of information from nationwide surveys such as the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and death registries. These surveys usually collect information on disease status during only one study visit. This infrequency leads to missing disease information (with right censored survival times) for deceased individuals who were disease-free at study participation, and a possibly biased estimation of the MRR because of possible undetected disease onset after study participation. This occurrence is called "misclassification of disease status at death (MicDaD)" and it is a potentially common source of bias in epidemiologic studies. In this study, we conducted a simulation analysis with a high and a low incidence setting to assess the extent of MicDaD-bias in the estimated mortality. For the simulated populations, MRR for diseased and non-diseased individuals with and without MicDaD were calculated and compared. Magnitude of MicDaD-bias depends on and is driven by the incidence of the chronic disease under consideration; our analysis revealed a noticeable shift towards underestimation for high incidences when MicDaD is present. Impact of MicDaD was smaller for lower incidence (but associated with greater uncertainty in the estimation of MRR in general). Further research can consider the amount of missing information and potential influencers such as duration and risk factors of the disease.

Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Diseases Among Racial and Ethnic Subgroups in Adults - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2013-2021.

Although diabetes and cardiovascular disease account for substantial disease prevalence among adults in the United States, their prevalence among racial and ethnic subgroups is inadequately characterized. To fill this gap, CDC described the prevalence of diagnosed cardiometabolic diseases among U.S. adults, by disaggregated racial and ethnic subgroups, among 3,970,904 respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System during 2013-2021. Prevalence of each disease (diabetes, myocardial infarction, angina or coronary heart disease, and stroke), stratified by race and ethnicity, was based on self-reported diagnosis by a health care professional, adjusting for age, sex, and survey year. Overall, mean respondent age was 47.5 years, and 51.4% of respondents were women. Prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among disaggregated race and ethnicity subgroups varied considerably. For example, diabetes prevalence within the aggregated non-Hispanic Asian category (11.5%) ranged from 6.3% in the Vietnamese subgroup to 15.2% in the Filipino subgroup. Prevalence of angina or coronary heart disease for the aggregated Hispanic or Latino category (3.8%) ranged from 3.1% in the Cuban subgroup to 6.3% in the Puerto Rican subgroup. Disaggregation of cardiometabolic disease prevalence data by race and ethnicity identified health disparities among subgroups that can be used to better help guide prevention programs and develop culturally relevant interventions.

Change in testing for blood glucose during the COVID-19 pandemic, United States 2019-2021.

AIM: This study assessed changes in testing for blood glucose in the United States (US) from 2019 to 2021. METHODS: We conducted a serial cross-sectional analysis of the 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey by including adults aged ≥ 18 years without reported diagnosed diabetes. We estimated the prevalence of testing for blood glucose within 12 months and the difference in the testing prevalence between 2019 and 2021. RESULTS: The study sample included 82,594 respondents without diabetes in 2019--2021, with a mean age between 46.4 and 46.8 years. Overall, the prevalence of testing for blood glucose decreased significantly from 64.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 63.3 %, 65.1 %) in 2019 to 60.0 % (95 % CI 59.1 %, 60.9 %) in 2021. Among adults who met the United States Preventive Services Task Force's 2015 screening recommendation, the prevalence decreased from 73.4 % (95 % CI 72.2 %, 74.6 %) to 69.5 % (95 % CI 68.3 %, 70.6 %). Although decreases in testing were observed in most groups, the extent of the decline differed by subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for blood glucose decreased in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have delayed diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes and diabetes, underscoring the importance of continued access to diabetes screening during pandemics.