Risk factors for mortality in diabetic nephropathy patients accepted for transplantation.
BACKGROUND
There is a high incidence of silent coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes. We wanted to investigate risk factors for mortality, and especially CAD, in a well-defined cohort of diabetic nephropathy transplant candidates accepted for transplantation.


METHODS
From 1999 through 2004, 155 patients underwent work up for living or deceased kidney (KA) or simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation. The work up included coronary angiography for all patients and 136 were accepted. Mean (SD) age was 50 (12) years, 62% had type 1 diabetes, 73% were males, and 34% were on dialysis. Mean follow-up from time of acceptance for transplantation was 3.6 (1.9) years.


RESULTS
Survival of KA transplanted patients was 97% at 1 year, 89% at 3 years, and 76% at 5 years, whereas in SPK patients 100%, 94%, and 90%, respectively (P=0.065). One- and 3- year survival was only 57% and 20% in those remaining wait-listed (P<0.001). In univariate analysis mortality was associated with KA transplantation (hazard ratio [HR]=0.30, P=0.011) and SPK transplantation (HR=0.10, P=0.001), and age (HR=1.04, P=0.014). In multivariable analysis, KA transplantation (HR=0.28, P=0.006), SPK transplantation (HR=0.09, P=0.001), age (HR=1.06, P=0.002), type 2 diabetes (HR=0.14, P=0.003), and duration of diabetes (HR=0.94, P=0.019) were parameters associated with mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
The only modifiable risk factor was transplantation with risk reduction up to 90%. CAD was not a risk factor for mortality when medically treated and revascularized according to standard guidelines.
Witczak
Bartlomiej J
BJ
Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. b.j.witczak@medisin.uio.no
Jenssen
Trond
T
Endresen
Knut
K
Røislien
Jo
J
Hartmann
Anders
A
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors