Impact of kidney size on the outcome of diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis.

Abstract

IntroductionDiabetic patients normally have enlarged or normal-sized kidneys throughout their lifetime, but some diabetic uremic patients have small kidneys. It is uncertain if kidney size could have any negative impact on outcome in hemodialysis patients.MethodsThis longitudinal, observational cohort study recruited 301 diabetic hemodialysis patients in 2015, and followed until 2019. Patients were stratified into two subgroups according to their kidney sizes before dialysis, as small (n = 32) or enlarged or normal (n = 269). Baseline demographic, hematological, biochemical, nutritional, inflammatory and dialysis related data were collected for analysis.ResultsPatients with small kidney size were not only older (PConclusionsSmall kidney size on starting hemodialysis was not related with an augmented risk for death in diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis. Further studies are necessary.