Penno G, et al. – Given that non-albuminuric renal impairment has become the most predominant diabetic kidney disease (DKD) phenotype in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min⁻¹/1.73 m⁻², researchers compared the rate and determinants of all-cause death in individuals with albuminuric phenotypes in this observational prospective cohort study. Participants included 15,773 individuals with T2DM, recruited 2006-2008. Based on baseline albuminuria and eGFR, individuals were classified as having: no DKD, albuminuria alone, reduced eGFR alone, or both albuminuria and reduced eGFR. Findings showed that non-albuminuric renal impairment may be a strong predictor of mortality, supporting a major prognostic impact of renal dysfunction regardless of albuminuria. Correlates of death partly varied from the albuminuric forms, suggesting that non-albuminuric DKD is a distinct phenotype.