Anemia and Diabetes Comorbidities in Chronic Kidney Disease
Summary
Anemia frequently complicates the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people with diabetes, amplifying the risk of cardiovascular events, cognitive impairment and diminished quality of life. In diabetes, persistent hyperglycaemia provokes microvascular injury in the renal glomeruli, reducing erythropoietin production and impairing red blood cell survival. Concurrent inflammation and uraemic toxins exacerbate marrow suppression and iron dysregulation. The prevalence of anemia rises as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) falls, yet can be present even in early CKD stages. Clinically, anaemic diabetic patients show greater morbidity, accelerated progression of nephropathy and higher rates of hospitalisation. Management strategies balance correction of iron deficiency, judicious use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and optimisation of glycaemic and blood pressure control, all aimed at mitigating downstream complications while avoiding overtreatment.*
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Anemia and Diabetes Comorbidities in Chronic Kidney Disease publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in anemia and diabetes comorbidities in chronic kidney disease across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Anemia: A reduction in circulating haemoglobin or red blood cell mass below normal thresholds, leading to impaired oxygen delivery.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): A progressive decline in kidney function, often staged by eGFR and markers of renal damage such as albuminuria.
Albuminuria: The presence of albumin in urine, indicating glomerular injury and serving as a risk marker for progression of both CKD and anaemia.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR): A calculated index of kidney filtering capacity, expressed in mL/min per 1.73 m2, used to stage CKD.
Erythropoietin: A hormone produced by the kidney that stimulates red blood cell production; levels fall as CKD advances, contributing to anaemia.
References
- Modification Effects of Albuminuria on the Association Between Kidney Function and Development of Anemia in Diabetes. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2023).
- Anemia in type 2 diabetic patients and correlation with kidney function in a tertiary care sub-Saharan African hospital: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nephrology (2016).
- Prevalence of anemia in diabetic adult outpatients in Northeast Ethiopia. PLOS ONE (2019).
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