Correlation analysis between eGFR_cys and SXscore in patients with diabetes

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between the cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR_cys) and the SYNTAX score (SXscore) in patients with diabetes. To the best of our knowledge, this correlation has not been reported previously. The eGFR_cys and SXscore from 612 consecutive patients with diabetes were retrospectively included in this study. The patients were angiographically diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) between July 2010 and March 2012 at the Department of Endocrinology. The SXscore was calculated using a previously described SXscore algorithm. Pearson correlations were used to analyze the correlation between eGFR_cys and SXscore. Patients with renal dysfunction were older, more often female and more likely to have a history of hypertension when compared with those with normal renal function. The eGFR_cys values were significantly lower and the cystatin C levels were significantly higher in the highest SXscore group than those in other groups (P<0.001). Correlation analysis indicated that eGFR_cys was negatively correlated with the SXscore (r=-0.7918, P<0.001). In addition, a significantly positive correlation was identified between levels of cystatin C and the SXscore (r=0.8891, P<0.001). In conclusion, eGFR_cys is an independent predictor of SXscore in patients with diabetes. The eGFR_cys-estimating method may be considered important in the assessment of the SXscore in patients with diabetes.