Time trends in the epidemiology of renal transplant patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus over the last four decades.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 is an important contributor to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among younger transplant recipients. However, little is known about the changes in epidemiological characteristics of this population. Especially, time to reach ESRD may have changed in type 1 diabetic patients referred for transplantation, resulting in higher age at time of grafting. Such time trends may allow anticipating future developments regarding the demand for organ replacement in this patient group.


METHODS
We retrospectively analysed 173 patients with type 1 DM undergoing renal transplantation at our institution, stratified into four groups according to year of reaching ESRD (A = 1973-1983, B = 1984-1990, C = 1991-1995 and D = 1996-2002). For each group we determined age at diagnosis of DM, age at time of reaching ESRD and age at time of transplantation. From these data, the interval from diagnosis of DM to ESRD and from ESRD to transplantation was calculated. The results were analysed in relation to gender, year of and age at onset of diabetes.


RESULTS
Patients reaching ESRD in more recent years (group D) tended to be both younger at diagnosis of DM and older when reaching ESRD, resulting in higher mean age at transplantation (35.0, 37.5, 39.6 and 41.0 years in groups A, B, C and D, respectively). Accordingly, median duration to ESRD has significantly been prolonged over the last five decades in patients with type 1 DM undergoing renal transplantation (group A: 21.0, B: 20.7, C: 22.3 and D: 28.5 years; P < 0.0001), this finding being more pronounced in female patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our analysis are compatible with a change in epidemiology in patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Older age at time of reaching ESRD may impact significantly on the demand for renal grafts, as patients are already clearly older nowadays when being transplanted. From our data it cannot be concluded whether this development is due to a change in the progression of diabetic nephropathy or may simply reflect a change in the selection of type 1 diabetic patients referred for transplantation.
Cao
Claude
C
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Hellermann
Jens P
JP
Weber
Markus
M
Ambühl
Patrice M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors