Association between dietary protein intake and mortality among patients with diabetic kidney disease

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews 2024-07, Vol.18 (7), p.103091, Article 103091
• Main Authors: Wu, Yichuan, Chen, Jiaqi, Tao, Yuan, Xiao, Manlu, Xiong, Jingrong, Chen, Aomiao, Ma, Xiaoqin, Li, Linna, Jia, Hongxia, Zhang, Qian, Xue, Yaoming, Jia, Yijie, Zheng, Zongji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Epidemiology; NHANES; Protein; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.103091

This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary protein intake and mortality among patients with diabetic kidney disease. The research encompassed a total of 2901 participants diagnosed with diabetic kidney disease, drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). To determine outcomes related to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, connections were established with the National Death Index up until December 31, 2019. Estimations of hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were conducted using Cox proportional hazard ratio models. During the 261,239 person-years of follow-up, 1236 deaths were recorded. After multivariate adjustment, the weighted hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % CIs for participants with 1.0–1.2 g/kg of protein intake was 0.65 (0.44, 0.96) for all-cause mortality. A higher proportion of animal protein intake was found to be associated with an increased mortality risk. Stratified analyses showed that higher protein intake benefited older participants. In diabetic kidney disease patients, 1.0–1.2 g/kg of protein was associated with lower mortality and 0.6–1.2 g/kg of protein especially benefitted patients ≥60 years. •1.0–1.2 g/kg of dietary protein intake was associated with lower mortality in people with diabetic kidney disease.•For diabetic kidney disease patients aged ≥60 years, 0.6–1.2 g/kg of dietary protein intake was related to reduced mortality.•Adequate protein intake was necessary for diabetic kidney disease patients in case of malnutrition.