Factors affecting albuminuria in diabetic patients at King Fahad Hospital in Almadinah Almunawwarah

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with development of albuminuria in diabetic patients.MethodsA hospital based case–control study. Fifty diabetic nephropathy patients were compared with 100 diabetic patients without nephropathy. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages and mean were calculated. Chi-square test, T-test and Univariate logistic regression analysis were used. P < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsAn Univariate logistic regression analysis has shown significant associated factors including old age (OR = 8.1) (95%CI = 2.2–30.1), sex (male) (OR = 2.4) (95%CI = 1.18–4.99), the duration of diabetes mellitus above 10 years OR were 4.23 (95%C = 1.6–15.4), associated mild, moderate, and severe hypertension ORs were 5.2 (95%CI = 2.3–11.7), 5.1 (95%CI = 1.5–16.93) and 15.2 (95%CI = 1.4–158.1), respectively, cardiac disease (OR = 3.77) (95%CI = 1.6–8.7), using Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) (OR = 8.1) (95% CI = 3.61–18.2), low triglyceride level (OR = 0.38) (95%CI = 0.10–0.81).ConclusionSix factors showed a significant positive relationship to the progression of albuminuria in diabetic patients. Older age and males were found to be predictors of high albuminuria. Also, cardiac disease, poor hypertension control, the use of ACEIs or ARBs were found to be predictors of higher albuminuria. Low triglyceride levels were significantly associated with low albuminuria. Higher levels of HbA1c showed less albuminuria while body mass index, smoking and retinopathy showed no association to the albuminuria.