Prevalence and risk factors of glomerular hyperfiltration in adults with type 2 diabetes: A population-based study

Aims

Glomerular hyperfiltration characterises the earliest stage of diabetic nephropathy and predicts adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of glomerular hyperfiltration in a population-based contemporary cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Materials and Methods

The prevalence of unequivocal glomerular hyperfiltration (defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate >120 mL/min/1.73 m²) and its associated risk factors were identified in a cohort of 202,068 adult patients with T2D receiving specialist care in 2021–2022, whose center-aggregated data were automatically extracted from electronic medical records of 75 diabetes clinics in Italy.

Results

Glomerular hyperfiltration was identified in 1262 (0.6%) participants. The prevalence of glomerular hyperfiltration varied widely across centers (0%–3.4%) and correlated with mean center age, HbA_1c, body mass index (BMI), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Patients in centers with high glomerular hyperfiltration prevalence (>0.8%) were more often men and had lower age and BMI, but more frequent albuminuria and worse glucose, lipid, and blood pressure control, compared with low-normal prevalence centers.

Conclusions

Unequivocal glomerular hyperfiltration can be identified in up to 3.4% of patients receiving up-to-date specialist diabetes care. Glomerular hyperfiltration prevalence varies across centers and substantially increases with suboptimal control of metabolic risk factors, which would require improved management to mitigate the negative health consequences of this pathological condition.