Association Between Low-Dose Aspirin Use and Early Renal Injury Biomarkers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:...

Microalbuminuria and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) are important markers for early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid; ASP) has been associated with anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects in patients with T2DM. This study investigated the association between low-dose ASP use and renal injury markers in patients with T2DM.

A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted in 60 Taiwanese patients with T2DM. Patients receiving low-dose ASP (100 mg/day) were matched 1:1 with controls according to sex, age, height, weight, body mass index, and duration of diabetes. Metabolic outcomes and renal injury markers, including serum creatinine, urine microalbumin, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), were evaluated during follow-up.

Compared with the DM group, the ASP group demonstrated lower HbA1c and total cholesterol levels during follow-up. In renal outcome analysis, urine microalbumin levels were significantly lower in the ASP group than in the DM group at follow-up (p = 0.039). A trend toward improved UACR was also observed in the ASP group.

Low-dose ASP use was associated with favorable changes in glycemic control and early renal injury markers in patients with T2DM. Lower urine microalbumin levels and a trend toward improved UACR were observed in the ASP group during follow-up. Although microalbuminuria may be influenced by multiple metabolic and cardiovascular factors, the present findings suggest that low-dose ASP therapy may have potential metabolic and renal associations in patients with T2DM. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and to explore the underlying mechanisms and their clinical relevance.