Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Within Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

To assess the prevalence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) among adults with type 2 diabetes within primary care.

This cross-sectional study evaluated 1319 individuals receiving standard care across 26 primary units from July 2017 to January 2023. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria were used for the diagnosis of CKD. CKD was defined by eGFR values of <60 mL/min/1.73 m² and/or albumin-to-creatine ratio ≥30 mg/g. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with CKD and study variables.

The median age of participants (60.6% females) was 55 years and the median diabetes duration was 10 years. The overall CKD prevalence in the study population was 39.2%. Within the CKD group, the prevalence rates of albuminuria, albuminuria coupled with low eGFR and isolated low eGFR were 72.1%, 19%, and 8.9%, respectively. The prevalence of CKD was 30.6% among participants under 40 years old and a higher value was observed in middle-aged adults with early-onset diabetes (at age <40 years) compared with the later-onset group. Multivariable analyses identified associations between CKD and factors such as age, the male sex, diabetes duration, hypertension, retinopathy, and metformin use.

A relatively high prevalence of CKD, especially in non-elderly adults, was revealed in this primary care study. Early recognition strategies for CKD are crucial for timely prevention within primary care.