Some degree of kidney disease occurs in just about every patient with type 1 diabetes, researchers concluded after conducting a study involving 932 individuals. Even though the rate of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is lower in people more recently diagnosed, it continues to impact >25% of the population by 40 years’ duration. Participants were an average age of 29 years and had type 1 diabetes that was diagnosed between 1950 and 1980. Investigators evaluated the 50-year cumulative kidney complication risk based on surveys and examinations. Among the results:

• ESRD impacted 60% of patients by 50 years of type 1 diabetes duration.
• Macroalbuminuria affected 72%, and microalbuminuria 88%.
• There was little evidence of declines in cumulative incidence in recent cohorts, except for ESRD (microalbuminuria 3% increase, macroalbuminuria no change; ESRD 45% decrease by 40 years of diabetes duration).
• Onset before age 6 years was linked with the lowest risk.
• Incidence was similar regardless of gender.