The impact of social deprivation on development and progression of diabetic kidney disease

Introduction: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease. Social deprivation is recognised as a risk factor for complications of diabetes, including diabetic kidney disease. The effect of deprivation on rate of decline in renal function has not been explored in the Irish Health System to date. The objective of this study is to explore the association between social deprivation and the development/progression of diabetic kidney disease in a cohort of adults living with diabetes in Ireland.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using an existing dataset of people living with diabetes who attended the diabetes centre at University Hospital Galway from 2012 to 2016. The variables included in this dataset include demographic variables, type and duration of diabetes, clinical variables such as medication use, blood pressure and BMI and laboratory data including creatinine, urine albumin to creatinine to ratio, haemoglobin A1c and lipids. This dataset will be updated with laboratory data until January 2023. Individual's addresses will be used to calculate deprivation indices using the Pobal Haase Pratschke (HP) deprivation index. Rate of renal function decline will be calculated using linear mixed-effect models. The relationship between deprivation and renal function will be assessed using linear regression (absolute and relative rate of renal function decline based on eGFR) and logistic regression models (rapid vs. non-rapid decline).