Association of diabetes-related kidney disease with cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes-related kidney disease is associated with end-stage renal disease and mortality, but opportunities remain to quantify its association with cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular morbidity outcomes. METHODS: We used the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database, 2010–2014, which includes specific health services records for employees and their dependents from a selection of large employers, health plans, and government and public organizations. We used administrative claims data to quantify the association between diabetes-related kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and infections. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios of developing complications. RESULTS: Among 2.2 million patients with diabetes, 7.1% had diabetes-related kidney disease: 13.5%, stage 1–2; 33.8%, stage 3; 13.2% stages 4–5; 39.5%, unknown stage. In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographic characteristics, baseline comorbid conditions, and total hospital days during the baseline period, hazard ratios for each outcome increased with greater diabetes-related kidney disease severity (stage 1–2 vs. stage 4–5) compared with no diabetes-related kidney disease: myocardial infarction, 1.2 (95% confidence interval 1.1–1.4) and 3.1 (2.9–3.4); congestive heart failure, 1.7 (1.6–1.9) and 5.6 (5.3–5.8); stroke, 1.3 (1.2–1.5) and 2.3 (2.1–2.5); infection, 1.4 (1.3–1.5) and 2.9 (2.8–3.0). Among patients with stage 4–5 disease, 36-month cumulative incidence was nearly 22.8% for congestive heart failure, and 25.8% for infections. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes-related kidney disease appears to be formally diagnosed at a more advanced stage than might be expected, given clinical practice guidelines. Risks of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes are high. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12902-019-0417-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.