Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37675684›Full record

Observational studySingapore medical journal2025

Disparities in ethnicity and metabolic disease burden in referrals to nephrology.

Yan Ting Chua, Cheang Han Leo, Horng Ruey Chua, Weng Kin Wong, Gek Cher Chan, Anantharaman Vathsala, Ye Lu Mavis Gan, Boon Wee Teo

Open access · diamondAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Singapore medical journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Yan Ting ChuaDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Cheang Han LeoDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Horng Ruey ChuaDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Weng Kin WongDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Gek Cher ChanDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Anantharaman VathsalaDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Ye Lu Mavis GanDepartment of Geriatrics, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, Wales.
Boon Wee TeoDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
National University Hospital · SGNational University of Singapore · SGSingleton Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe profile of patients referred from primary to tertiary nephrology care is unclear. Ethnic Malay patients have the highest incidence and prevalence of kidney failure in Singapore. We hypothesised that there is a Malay predominance among patients referred to nephrology due to a higher burden of metabolic disease in this ethnic group.

methodsThis is a retrospective observational cohort study. From 2014 to 2018, a coordinator and physician triaged patients referred from primary care, and determined co-management and assignment to nephrology clinics. Key disease parameters were collated on triage and analysed.

resultsA total of 6,017 patients were studied. The mean age of patients was 64 ± 16 years. They comprised 57% men; 67% were Chinese and 22% were Malay. The proportion of Malay patients is higher than the proportion of Malays in the general population (13.4%) and they were more likely than other ethnicities to have ≥3 comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery disease and stroke (70% vs. 57%, P < 0.001). Malay and Indian patients had poorer control of diabetes mellitus compared to other ethnicities (glycated haemoglobin 7.8% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001). Higher proportion of Malay patients compared to other ethnicities had worse kidney function with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 on presentation (28% vs. 24%, P = 0.003). More ethnic Malay, Indian and younger patients missed appointments.

conclusionA disproportionately large number of Malay patients are referred for kidney disease. These patients have higher metabolic disease burden, tend to miss appointments and are referred at lower eGFR. Reasons underpinning these associations should be identified to facilitate efforts for targeting this at-risk population, ensuring kidney health for all.

Indexed as

EthnicityMetabolic DiseasesNephrologyReferral and ConsultationAdultAgedDiabetes MellitusFemaleGlomerular Filtration RateHumansMalaysiaMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSingaporechronicEthnicitymetabolic syndromeprimary health carereferral and consultationrenal insufficiency

Identifiers

PMID37675684
PMCPMC12200813
OpenAlexW4385802159

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.