Prevalence and Predictors of "New-onset Diabetes after Transplantation" (NODAT) in Renal Transplant Recipients: An Observational Study.

Abstract

Objective:New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) develops frequently after renal transplant. The study aims at the prevalence of NODAT, predictors for developing it and therapeutic glycemic responses in NODAT.Materials and Methods:Consecutive renal transplant recipients excluding Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) or pretransplant diabetes were evaluated. Forty-three out of 250 persons were found to have NODAT. Ninety age-matched transplant recipients from the rest were recruited as control. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, lipid profile, and trough tacrolimus level (T0) were examined in all. HOMA IR C-peptide and HOMA-beta C-peptide were calculated.Results:Prevalence of NODAT in renal transplant recipients was 17.2% (43/250). Twenty-four (55.8%) developed early NODAT (<1 year) and 19 (44.2%) developed late NODAT (>1 year). Significantly higher pretransplant body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) (P < 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (cm) (P < 0.001), pretransplant cholesterol (mg%) (P = 0.04), triglyceride (mg%) (P < 0.001), and FBS (mg%) (P < 0.001) were found in NODAT compared with non-NODAT. Trough tacrolimus (ng/mL) was found to be higher in NODAT (10.2 vs. 5.37, P < 0.001). Though HOMA IR was not found to be different between groups, HOMA-beta C-peptide was low in NODAT compared with non-NODAT (P = 0.03). Predictors of NODAT were WC [odds ratio (OR) = 01.15] and trough tacrolimus level (OR = 1.316). Best cut-off of WC for predicting NODAT was 87.5 cm for male and 83.5 cm for female. Best cut-off of T0 was 8.5 ng/mL. In NODAT, 9.3% were treated by lifestyle modification, 67.4% by oral hypoglycemic agents, 11.6% by insulin, and 11.6% by combined insulin and oral antidiabetic agents with HbA1c <7%.Conclusion:NODAT in renal transplant recipients is more common in those with higher pretransplant BMI, WC, pretransplant total cholesterol, triglyceride, and FBS. Beta-cell secretory defect is more relevant as etiological factor rather than insulin resistance. Higher WC and trough tacrolimus level above 8.5 ng/mL may be important factors for predicting NODAT.