Association between drinking patterns and diabetic kidney disease in United States adults

A cross-sectional study investigated the association between drinking patterns and the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among adults in the United States.
Data were analysed from the NHANES surveys conducted between 1999 and 2016, including 26,473 participants. Drinking patterns were categorised by frequency (weekly, monthly, or yearly) and quantity (light, moderate, or heavy, based on daily consumption). Among participants with diabetes, diabetic kidney disease was defined using the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR ≥30 mg/g) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Associations were assessed, adjusting for potential confounders across the four models. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the effects of modification by age, sex, race, and BMI.
The study found that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a higher risk of diabetic kidney disease than light drinking (OR = 1.23, 95% CI, 1.04-1.46). Conversely, moderate drinking frequency (3-4 days per week, 2-5 days per month, 3-126 days per year) was associated with a reduced diabetic kidney disease risk (OR = 0.67, 95% CI, 0.49-0.91; OR = 0.75, 95% CI, 0.56-0.99, OR = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.58-0.86, respectively). A nonlinear association was observed between alcohol consumption frequency and diabetic kidney disease in terms of weekly and yearly drinking days.
This study highlights the importance of drinking behaviour in the management of diabetic kidney disease. Daily alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of DKD, whereas moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a reduced risk. These findings suggest that moderate drinking frequency may not exacerbate renal burden in individuals with diabetes and provide new perspectives for clinical interventions.
Source: Yang, X. (2025). Association between drinking patterns and diabetic kidney disease in United States adults: a cross-sectional study based on data from NHANES 1999–2016. Renal Failure, 47(1).