Predictors of microalbuminuria and its relationship with glycemic control among Type 2 diabetic patients of Jazan Armed Forces Hospital, southwestern Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is highly prevalent among patients with diabetes mellitus. It affects approximately 20% of diabetic patients, who are believed to be more than 400 million individuals. The objectives of the present work were to assess patterns of albuminuria and determine microalbuminuria predictors among patients living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who attended the family medicine department of Jazan Armed Forces Hospital. METHODS: A case–control design was used and included two groups (n, 202/group), one with microalbuminuria and the other with a normal urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). Data regarding patient history, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, renal function tests, ACR, ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) risk, etc., were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were 26.4% and 3.9%, respectively. HbA1c was significantly higher in patients with microalbuminuria (9.3 ± 2.2; P˂0.001) and macroalbuminuria (10.5 ± 2.3; P˂0.001) than in those with normal ACR (8.3 ± 1.9%). The predictors of microalbuminuria were poor glycemic control with HbA1c ≥ 7% {OR, 2.5 (95% C. I, 1.5–4.2)}; hypertension {(OR, 1.8 (95% C. I, 1.2–2.8)}; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ˂90 mL/min/1.73 m2 {OR, 2.2 (95% C. I, 1.4–3.6}; smoking {OR, 1.3 (95% C. I, 0.7–2.6}; and body mass index {OR, 1.05 (95% C. I, 1.01–1.09}. CONCLUSION: Microalbuminuria is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes and is associated with poor glycemic control and hypertension, necessitating aggressive and timely screening and treatment.