Is there a difference in progression of renal disease between South Asian and white European diabetic adults with moderately reduced kidney function?

Aims: We examined potential ethnicity-related differences in progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) between South Asian and white European diabetic adults with CKD stage 3 over a 5-year period. Methods: We analysed data collected from diabetic adults of white European and South Asian ethnicity who had attended diabetes and diabetes-renal outpatient clinics with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values >= 30 and <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) over 5 years (2005-2010); 891 (76%) were white Europeans, 282 (24%) were South Asians. Results: Despite similar baseline eGFR (P = 0.103), South Asians were younger [median (interquartile range) 68 (63-73) vs. 70 (64-77) years; P < 0.001] and had worse baseline glycated haemoglobin than white Europeans [8.0 (7.079.1) vs. 7.6 (6.8-8.7)%; P = 0.004]. The 5-year follow-up eGFR and the decline in eGFR did not differ between the two groups. Thirty-five (12.4%) South Asians and 82 (9.2%) white Europeans progressed to stages 4-5 CKD (P = 0.112). There was a trend towards higher follow-up glycated haemoglobin levels in South Asians (P = 0.064). Conclusions: Despite worse glycaemic control, South Asian diabetic adults with CKD stage 3 did not show any difference in 5-year decline in eGFR compared with white Europeans. These data do not support ethnic differences in progression of CKD between the South Asian and white European patient populations. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.