Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract Purpose The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been extensively studied in a variety of diseases. However, research on their relationship with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is limited. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of these two indicators with renal function in type 2 diabetes patients and assess whether they can serve as predictors of DKD. Methods A total of 655 patients with type 2 diabetes were retrospectively selected. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). The differences in the NLR and PLR among the groups and their correlation with renal function were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze independent risk factors for DKD, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the predictive values of the NLR and PLR for the disease. Results The NLR and PLR were significantly different among the three groups, and they increased with increasing levels of albuminuria. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the NLR and PLR were positively correlated with the UACR but negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that these two indicators were independent risk factors for DKD (p < 0.001). The results of ROC curve analysis suggested that the NLR (AUC = 0.794; 95% CI, 0.760–0.827; p < 0.001) and PLR (AUC = 0.665; 95% CI, 0.623–0.706, p < 0.001) had important diagnostic value for DKD. Conclusion The NLR and PLR were closely associated with renal function among type 2 diabetes patients, and high NLR and PLR may serve as predictors of DKD.