Epidemiological characteristics of diabetic kidney disease in Taiwan

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a critical microvascular complication of diabetes. With the continuous increase in the prevalence of diabetes since 2000, the prevalence of DKD has also been increasing in past years. The prevalence of DKD among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan increased from 13.32% in 2000 to 17.92% in 2014. The cumulative incidence of DKD among individuals with type 1 diabetes in Taiwan was higher than 30% during 1999-2012. DKD is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with a prevalence of approximately 45% in a population on chronic dialysis in Taiwan. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of ESRD in the receipt of dialysis also increased from 1.32% in 2005 to 1.47% in 2014. Risk factors for DKD development are age, race, family history, hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, dietary patterns, and lifestyles. Prognostic factors that aggravate DKD progression include age, family history, sex, glycemic control, blood pressure (BP), microvascular complications, and atherosclerosis. This review summarizes updated information on the onset and progression of DKD, particularly in the Taiwanese population. Translating these epidemiological features is essential to optimizing the kidney care and improving the prognosis of DKD in Asian populations.