Microalbuminuria and associated factors in newly diagnosed diabetics.

Diabetic nephropathy is a common cause of end-stage renal disease. Microalbuminuria, a predictor of diabetic nephropathy, was screened for in newly diagnosed diabetics with the objectives of finding its prevalence and factors associated with its development. The Micral-Test strip was used to screen for microalbuminuria in 66 newly diagnosed diabetics (21 Type 1, 45 Type 2) and 36 non-diabetic controls. Microalbuminuria was present in 50% of diabetics and 8% of controls. Compared with the control group, diabetics had a higher prevalence of smoking, significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure. Retinopathy was present in 23% of diabetics and was more frequently encountered in females. From multiple regression analysis smoking, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and retinopathy were significantly associated with microalbuminuria. In conclusion, microalbuminuria occurs commonly in newly diagnosed diabetics and its development is associated with elevated levels of systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, retinopathy and smoking. Screening for this associated factors of diabetic nephropathy is recommended as a routine in all newly diagnosed diabetics.