Obesity may predict risk of reduced renal function in type 2 diabetes patients: Study

Korea: A recent study in the journal BMC Endocrine Disorders has shown that in type 2 diabetes patients with normal renal function, baseline obesity is associated with the increased risk of decreased renal function. Weight gain of > 10% independently predicted the risk of reduced renal function. 

The researchers stress the need for large prospective studies in order to clarify causal associations between weight change, obesity. and decreased renal function in type 2 diabetes patients. 

Obesity is known to be a major risk factor for hypertension, obesity, and other diseases. Recent studies have identified a link between obesity and decreased renal function. There is an increased prevalence of obesity in diabetic patients, and diabetes is the main cause of chronic kidney disease. In this context, it becomes important to understand how changes in body weight and waist circumference affect CKD progression in patients with diabetes and chronic disease. 

Against the above background, Chul-Hee Kim, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Republic of Korea, and colleagues aimed to examine the associations between the risk of decreased renal function, obesity, and weight changes in Korean type 2 diabetic patients with normal renal function.

The researchers recruited 1060 type 2 diabetes patients who visited the diabetic clinic at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital between 2001 and 2007 with follow-up surveys completed in 2016 to 2017. Decreased renal function was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Weight change was calculated between baseline and each follow-up survey. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the longitudinal association of baseline obesity and weight changes with the risk of decreased renal function. 

"Large prospective studies are needed to clarify causal associations between obesity, weight change, and decreased renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes," concluded the authors. 

Reference:

Kim, BY., Choi, DH., Jung, CH. et al. Associations between obesity, weight change and decreased renal function in Korean type 2 diabetic patients: a longitudinal follow-up study. BMC Endocr Disord 21, 188 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-021-00853-z