OBJECTIVE -Cigarette smoking contributes to development of diabetic nephropathy. However, long-term studies on the effect of smoking on decline in kidney function in diabetic nephropathy are lacking. We assessed the impact of smoking on progression of diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic patients enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study started in 1983.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -We identified all albuminuric type 1 diabetic patients (n ϭ 301) followed for at least 3 years, median (range) 7 years (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), who underwent at least yearly measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by the 51 Cr-EDTA plasma clearance technique (n ϭ 8, range 3-24). In total, 192 men and 109 women were included (age [mean Ϯ SD] 36 Ϯ 11 years, duration of diabetes 22 Ϯ 8 years); 271 patients were treated with antihypertensive drugs, predominantly ACE inhibitors in 179 patients. Patients were classified as smokers if they smoked more than one cigarette per day during a portion of or the entire observation period. Blood pressure, albuminuria, HbA 1c , and serum cholesterol were measured every 3-4 months during the study. RESULTS -In all 301 patients, the mean (SE) rate of decline in GFR (⌬GFR) was 4.0 (0.2) ml ⅐ min -1 ⅐ year -1 during the investigation period. No difference in ⌬GFR was demonstrated between nonsmokers (n ϭ 94), ⌬GFR 4.5 (0.4), ex-smokers (n ϭ 31), ⌬GFR 3.1 (0.7), and smokers (n ϭ 176), ⌬GFR 3.9 (0.3) ml ⅐ min -1 ⅐ year -1 , respectively (NS). Adjustment for other risk factors for progression of diabetic nephropathy did not alter the results: smoking was not associated with ⌬GFR, whereas blood pressure, albuminuria, HbA 1c , and serum cholesterol were demonstrated to be independent progression promoters.CONCLUSIONS -In our study, smoking was not associated with decline in kidney function in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy.
Diabetes Care 26:911-916, 2003