Microalbuminuria and Associated Factors in Diabetics at the CNHU-HKM of Cotonou

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of great frequency and is a major public health problem. Several complications can occur during the course of diabetes such as diabetic nephropathy, which starts with microalbuminuria in diabetic patients. This was a cross-sectional and analytical study which took place from 23 September to 23 December 2021 in the Endocrinology-Metabolism-Nutrition Department of the CNHU-HKM of Cotonou, Benin. We carried out an exhaustive census of the patients. Type 2 diabetic patients were included in the study, and 24-hour microalbumunuria, fundus examination and assessment of complications were performed. We identified 145 type 2 diabetic patients of whom 44 had positive microalbuminuria, i.e. a prevalence of 30.3%. There were 61 men and 84 women with a sex ratio of 0.72. The mean age was 59 years with extremes of 26 and 85 years. The complications identified in diabetics with positive microalbuminuria were Neuropathy (43.2%), Nephropathy (22.7%) and Retinopathy (20.5%). Factors associated with microalbuminuria in diabetics were: age, occupation, hypertension, diabetes imbalance, erectile dysfunction. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is common in type 2 diabetes. It should be managed early to slow the progression of kidney disease to the end stage.