Screening for microalbuminuria in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics at a staff clinic in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Background: Most individuals working in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Port Harcourt are obese (with BMI> 29 kg/m2). This has been attributed to change in diet and life style. Most of these individuals present with type 2 diabetes. Individuals with diabetes are at higher risk of suffering renal damage. It is observed that in spite of the medical facilities made available to these company workers, they do not present early for management but rather present when diabetic complications have set in to worsen outcome of management.
Aim: To study the prevalence of microalbuminuria (as an evidence of onset of renal complication of diabetes) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics and its possible relationship with other diabetic complications in this group of patients.
Methods: In this prospective study, 60 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics were tested for microalbuminuria using micral test strips. Subjects and controls were also assessed for retinopathy, hypertension and glycated haemoglobin levels.
Results: Microalbuminuria was present in 38 (63.3%) patients and was found to be significantly associated with mean arterial pressure, systemic hypertension, glycated haemoglobin levels and diabetic retinopathy (p<0.05).
Conclusion: There is a very high rate of microalbuminuria at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in Port Harcourt. Glycated haemoglobin level is a very good prognostic indicator for the development of microalbuminuria in this group of patients


Keywords: Screening, Microalbuminuria, Type 2 diabetics, Glycated haemoglobin, Diabetic retinopathy, Systemic hypertension, Port Harcourt

Port Harcourt Medical Journal Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 10-14