The study aims to evaluate the association between glycaemic variability and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in patients with diabetes and comorbid kidney disease. A comprehensive search was conducted of three databases from their inception to March 2022: Medline, Embase, and CINHAL. Publications were screened for eligibility and the quality of studies included was appraised using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Extracted data were tabulated and reported in a narrative synthesis. Fourteen studies were included in the review providing data on 62,498 participants. Eight studies reported that greater glycaemic variability was associated with an increased incidence of CKD. Three studies reported an increased likelihood of CKD progression in those with high glycaemic variability, although the rate and risk of progression varied across the studies. Three studies reported an increased risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) with higher glycaemic variability. One study found that high glycaemic variability was associated with a decreased risk of progression to ESKD. Greater glycaemic variability was associated with the onset and progression of CKD. More research is required to verify whether glycaemic variability increases the risk of progression to ESKD in patients with diabetes and mild/moderate comorbid CKD.

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