Gender-inclined Young Age Glycosuria: Contribution to Late Age Chronic Renal Diseases, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Diseases

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney diseases (CKD), Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the recent worldwide late age chronic conditions that could be a consequence of renal glycosuria during childhood. This study aimed at determining the extent of glycosuria in secondary school students to obtain information that could be predictive of the situation in late age life of Tanzanians living in Mkuranga District. METHODOLOGY: This was school-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in assenting and consenting 800 students from July to October 2019 in Mkuranga district, Pwani-Tanzania. Socio-demographic information was collected using well-structured questionnaires while weight and height were measured using beam balance and tape measure, respectively. Dipstick strip was used to determine urine glucose on clean catch mid-stream urine collected specimens. RESULTS: From a total of 800 enrolled students, 0.6% (5/800) had glycosuria from whom 80% were males and 20% (1/5) were females (p = 0.37). The proportion of glycosuric males was 4 folds higher than that found in females. While height, body mass index (BMI) and waist–hip circumference ratio were associated with renal glycosuria (p < 0.05), other factors showed no association (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the low proportion (0.6%) of glycosuria in this study, the contribution of young age renal glycosuria to old age CKD, T2DM and CVDs cannot be ruled out with males being more prone than females. Thus, it signals for consideration of regular screening for glycosuria in the school health programmes as an intervention strategy to prevent potential late age chronic disease complications.