Risk factors for new-onset diabetes mellitus after living donor kidney transplantation in Korea - a retrospective single center study

BACKGROUND: New-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT) is a serious complication following renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for the development of NODAT in Korean transplant patients. METHODS: Recipients who underwent living donor kidney transplantation between January 2009 and April 2012 at Asan Medical Center were reviewed. Diagnosis of NODAT was defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. RESULTS: A total of 418 patients were enrolled. NODAT was diagnosed in 85 (20.4 %) patients within 1 year. By multivariate analysis, old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95 % Confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.08), family history of diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.48; 95 % CI: 1.04–5.94), pre-transplant high serum glucose level (OR, 1.04; 95 % CI: 1.01–1.08), and obesity (OR, 3.46; 95 % CI: 1.55–7.73) were independent risk factors for NODAT. CONCLUSION: Old age, family history of diabetes, pre-transplant high plasma glucose level, and obesity are independent factors associated with the development of diabetes after renal transplantation. In contrast, serum magnesium levels and the use of tacrolimus are not associated with the development of NODAT. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12882-016-0321-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.