Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Kunkui Kidney Protection Ointment in reducing proteinuria among patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) through a real-world study.
METHODS Data from Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine between February 15, 2021, and September 30, 2024 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into three groups based on their medication history: the Kunkui group, the Huangkui group, and the Western medicine group. Descriptive analyses were conducted across the three groups. Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to evaluate the impact of Kunkui Kidney Protection Ointment on achieving urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) reduction targets (30% or 50% from baseline), with stratified analyses conducted.
RESULTS A total of 601 patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease and proteinuria were included. The Kunkui group (n=133) demonstrated significantly higher achievement rates for both 30% (68.4%) and 50% (63.9%) reductions in UACR, along with shorter time to achievement (4.0 and 4.0 months), compared to the Huangkui group (n=290, achievement rates of 56.9% and 52.1%, achievement time of 5.5 and 6.5 months) and conventional Western medicine group (n=178, achievement rates of 46.6% and 25.8%, achievement time of 8.0 and 10.5 months) (all P<0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that after adjusting for confounding factors, the Kunkui group exhibited significantly higher likelihoods of achieving both 30% and 50% reductions in UACR, with HRs of 2.173 (95% CI: 1.560-3.026; P<0.001) and 4.984 (95% CI: 3.370-7.369; P<0.001) respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves confirmed significant between-group differences (P<0.000 1). Subgroup analyses demonstrated positive effects of Kunkui Kidney Protection Ointment in patients with diverse characteristics.
CONCLUSION Kunkui Kidney Protection Ointment effectively reduces UACR in individuals with DKD, with consistent and reliable therapeutic effects.