Psychosocial conditions and the progression of diabetic nephropathy in Japanese with type 2 diabetes mellitus

We previously reported the association of positive psychosocial conditions with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes in a cross-sectional setting. In the present study, we evaluated the association between six indicators related to psychosocial conditions and the progression of DN assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria during 2-year observation period in 252 patients with type 2 diabetes. In unadjusted model, the subjects with higher happiness score attenuated reduced eGFR, and those with more social support attenuated increase in alubuminuria and decline eGFR. However, in adjusted model for happiness score and social support, only happiness score indicated the significant association with reduced eGFR. Gender-segregated analysis showed a significant association between happiness score and ΔeGFR in male but not in female subjects. On the other hand, decrease in eGFR was significantly attenuated in the subjects with more social support as compared to those with less social support in women but not in men. These results suggested that that psychosocial conditions could be related to the progression of DN, and that the psychosocial factors that influence in DN might differ between men and women, in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.