Effects of Gender, Helicobacter Pylori and Hepatitis B Virus Serology Status on Cardiovascular and Renal Complications in Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Overt Nephropathy

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic infections with Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis B virus (HBV) might affect clinical outcomes in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with advanced nephropathy.

Methods: A prospective study of 97 type 2 diabetic patients with clinical proteinuria and renal insufficiency (median serum creatinine 200 micro mol/l).

Results: During a median follow-up period of 2 years, 34 developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD), 28 had cardiovascular endpoints and 11 patients had died (seven men and four women), and 52.7% developed a combined endpoint. Female patients had longer disease duration, higher blood pressure, lower body weight but higher serum creatinine and spot urine albumin : creatinine ratio as well as lower haemoglobin than male patients. On logistic regression analysis, female gender (hazard ratio: 5.91, p = 0.02), negative H. pylori serology (8.39, p = 0.004), baseline serum creatinine (1.04, p = 0.001) and haemoglobin (1.86, p = 0.01) were independent predictors for ESRD. Systolic blood pressure (1.04, p = 0.003), prior treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (3.41, p = 0.04) and positive hepatitis B surface antigen (4.88, p = 0.025) were independent predictors for cardiovascular endpoints. Female gender (7.89, p = 0.002) and baseline serum creatinine (1.05, p < 0.001) were independent predictors for combined death and cardio-renal endpoints.

Conclusions: In Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with clinical proteinuria renal insufficiency, there were high rates of death and cardio-renal outcomes. Female gender, low haemoglobin and negative H. pylori serology were important predictors for ESRD, whereas chronic HBV infection was associated with increased cardiovascular risks.