Endocrine Abstracts

Prior studies have demonstrated that diabetes as a cause of or contributing factor to end stage renal disease (ESRD) has a detrimental impact on survival. What is unclear is whether this effect varies by age and gender.

Methods: The objective of this study was to evaluate mortality differences by age and gender among diabetic and non-diabetic ESRD patients in a national cohort. Data on all new ESRD patients (n=451,296) who were initiated on dialysis in the U.S. between 5/1995-12/2000 and followed until 12/2001 were obtained from the U.S. Renal Data System. Mortality risks were compared for diabetic and non-diabetic patients using Cox regression adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and 18 comorbid indicators recorded at ESRD onset. The cohort was stratified by age group (<50, 50–70 and >70 yrs) and gender.

Results: The adjusted relative hazard ratios (RR) for death for Diabetic (DM) vs non-Diabetic (Non-DM) patients are shown.

Conclusions: Mortality risks were significantly greater in diabetic than non-diabetic ESRD patients. These risks were greatest for patients <50 yrs and females. Whether these differences represent inequalities in delivered diabetic care or greater disease severity deserves further attention.