Original Paper

Prevalence and Severity of Anaemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy and Different Degrees of Chronic Renal Insufficiency
Maurizio Li Vecchi^a, Giorgio Fuiano^b, Marino Francesco^b, Domenico Mancuso^b, Teresa Faga^b, Andrea Sponton^b, Rossana Provenzano^a, Michele Andreucci^b, Carmela Tozzo^c

Chairs of Nephrology,
^aUniversity of Palermo, Palermo,
^bUniversity of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, and
^cUniversity of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Nephron Clin Pract 2007;105:c62-c67 (DOI: 10.1159/000097600)

  Key Words

• Anaemia, diabetes mellitus
• Chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus, anaemia

  Abstract

Background/Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the single most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however its real impact on renal anaemia has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether onset, severity, and prevalence of anaemia during the course of CKD is different between type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Methods: We enrolled 281 patients with: (1) type 2 diabetes and no CKD (n = 75); (2) type 2 diabetes plus CKD (n = 106), and (3) CKD without type 2 diabetes (n = 100). According to K/DOQI guidelines, the patients with renal insufficiency (i.e., those with a glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min) were subgrouped into three tertiles of CKD: (1) stage 3 (creatinine clearance 60-30 ml/min); (2) stage 4 (creatinine clearance 29-15 ml/min), and (3) stage 5 (creatinine clearance <15 ml/min). Results: Anaemia was observed in 16% of the diabetic patients without CKD; it was more frequent in the diabetic patients with CKD than in the non-diabetic patients with CKD (61.7 vs. 52%, p < 0.05). The comparison among the tertiles showed that the prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher only in diabetic CKD patients of stages 4 and 5. The prevalence was higher in females independently of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In diabetics with a normal renal function, the haemoglobin levels were higher than in diabeticsand non-diabetics with CKD, but the diabetics showed lower levels of haemoglobin than non-diabetics at stage 3 and stage 4 of CKD. Conclusions: Diabetic patients with CKD of stages 4 and 5 have a higher prevalence of anaemia than non-diabetic patients with comparable glomerular filtration rate. A higher awareness of this risk will allow earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Giorgio Fuiano
Via F. Netti 4
IT-80131 Napoli (Italy)
E-Mail fuiano@unicz.it

  Article Information

Accepted: September 6, 2006
Received: February 28, 2006
Published online: November 29, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 25