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The following is a summary of “Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of acute kidney injury in patients with diabetes and predict a poorer outcome in patients with acute kidney injury,” published in the October 2024 issue of Nephrology by Li et al. 

Patients with diabetes are at a higher risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). Low levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] have been linked to increased AKI risk, yet few studies have examined this relationship specifically in patients who are diabetic. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the link between plasma 25(OH)D levels and AKI. 

They reviewed 347 patients with diabetes. The primary endpoint was the first occurrence of AKI, while the secondary endpoint was the need for dialysis. Patients with AKI were followed for 6 months for the composite endpoint of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or all-cause death. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were employed. 

The results showed that, during a median follow-up of 12 weeks (12.3 ± 6.7), 105 incidents of AKI were identified. Middle and high tertiles of baseline 25(OH)D levels were linked to a significantly reduced risk of AKI (HR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.14–0.46; HR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.13–0.44) and dialysis (HR = 0.15; 95% CI 0.05–0.46; HR = 0.12; 95% CI 0.03–0.42) compared to the low tertile group. Sensitivity analysis indicated similar trends after excluding participants without a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Additionally, patients suffering from AKI with 25(OH)D deficiency faced a higher risk for ESRD or all-cause death (HR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.80 to 9.97, P<0.001). 

Investigators concluded that low levels of 25(OH)D increased the risk of AKI and dialysis in patients with diabetes. Additionally, patients with AKI and 25(OH)D deficiency had a higher risk of ESRD or all-cause death. 

Source: bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-024-03781-x