Anemia combined with albuminuria increases the risk of cardiovascular and renal events, regardless of a reduced glomerular filtration rate, in patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective observational study.

ABSTRACT

Aim: The incidence of cardiovascular and renal events was investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes who were classified according to anemia and the components of dialysis-independent chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a prospective observational study. Methods: A population of 778 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes was prospectively analyzed for 4 years. The outcomes were the incidence of cardiovascular events and renal events. Results: In all subjects, the incidence of cardiovascular and renal events was found to be 5% and 11%, respectively. Even after adjusting for a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2), the incidence of cardiovascular events was significantly higher (hazard ratio [HR] 5.73) in patients with anemia and albuminuria than in those without anemia and albuminuria. The incidence of renal events was significantly higher in patients with no anemia and albuminuria (HR 2.93) and further in those with anemia and albuminuria (HR 7.56) than in those without anemia and albuminuria even after adjusting for a reduced eGFR. Conclusion: Anemia combined with albuminuria is a risk factor for vascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes, regardless of the eGFR. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-023-00637-x.