Rajesh Kalavara Pallathodiyi
BACKGROUND Microalbuminuria is more prevalent in Asians. There are not many published data on the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its associations in Indians, especially South Indians. Diabetic nephropathy is a common consequence of long-standing diabetes mellitus; microalbuminuria (MA) is considered an early change of diabetic nephropathy. The objectives of the study is to study the prevalence of microalbuminuria and associated comorbidities in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medicine Department of a tertiary care hospital. Type 2 diabetes patients between the ages of 20-70 years who attended the clinic in 2014 were included in this study. Data was collected by reviewing medical records for demographic and disease-related variables. MA was detected by measuring the albumin to creatinine ratio, and MA was diagnosed if this ratio was between 30 and 300 mg/g on two occasions. RESULTS 37.3% had MA in the study and the rate was higher among females (p <0.024). There was a positive correlation between MA and duration of diabetes (p <0.001), the presence of hypertension (p <0.001), body mass index (BMI) (p <0.002), fasting plasma glucose (p <0.001), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (p <0.039). A HbA1c >7 was associated with higher incidence of microalbuminuria (p <0.001). Age, creatinine level, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride did not show any significant correlation with the presence of MA. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of MA in patients with diabetes in this study. Early detection of MA, and the active management of modifiable risk factors, in particular, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity, can delay the onset of complications.
