Status of screening and preventive efforts against diabetic kidney disease between 2013 and 2018: analysis using an administrative database from Kyoto-city, Japan

BACKGROUND: Japan has the second highest prevalence of dialysis use in the world. Approximately 40% of patients who begin dialysis have diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Local governments and medical facilities are required to provide preventive measures against worsening diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the percentage of patients with DM who receive such screening or interventions for DKD is unclear. This study aimed to reveal to what extent screening for DKD and preventive measures against worsening DKD are performed in patients with DM, using an administrative database in a municipality. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that used the Kyoto-city’s administrative medical and long-term care database. Patients with a diagnosis of DM and receiving antidiabetic medication between 2013 and 2018 were defined as patients with DM and included. Patients with DKD were defined as those diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy or those with chronic kidney disease. We described the characteristics of patients with DM, diabetic complications, and extent of DKD screenings and preventive efforts against worsening of DM by fiscal year. RESULTS: Across fiscal years, 25.8% to 27.5% of patient with DM had DKD. More than 3% of patients were on dialysis due DM in each fiscal year; approximately 15% started receiving dialysis that year. The percentage of patients who were regularly prescribed antidiabetic medication and received glycosylated hemoglobin testing ranged from 64.0% to 67.2% and from 30.6% to 36.5%, respectively. Urine microalbuminuria testing at least once a year occurred in 9.3% to 10.0%. The percentage of patients who received nutritional guidance ranged from 19.0% to 21.0%. Approximately 1% of patients received guidance for preventing DM from progressing to a disease that requires dialysis each fiscal year. CONCLUSION: This study from Japan, where a super-aging society has developed, using an administrative database in a municipality covering most of the elderly population clearly demonstrated an evidence-practice gap in efforts to prevent worsening of DKD. Strengthening cooperation between government and medical facilities and support for providing preventive measures against DKD are urgently needed.