A Cross-Sectional Study on the Estimation of Urine Albumin for the Early Diagnosis of Diabetic Nephropathy Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

Abstract

Background Diabetic nephropathy is a significant concern among individuals with diabetes mellitus, warranting early diagnosis for effective management. This study focuses on the potential of urine albumin estimation as an early diagnostic tool for diabetic nephropathy among patients in central India. Methods A cross-sectional methodology involved 65 individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care hospital. Demographic factors, including age, gender, family history, duration of diabetes, and dietary patterns, were gathered. Urine albumin levels were categorized as "normal," "microalbuminuria," and "macroalbuminuria." The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Qualitative variables were presented as percentages and counts. The comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square exact test. Quantitative variables were described as mean (±standard deviation) and median. Results The study reveals that 78.5% of cases exhibited normal levels below 30 mg, with a mean value of 1.00 ± 0.414. Microalbuminuria, characterized by 30-300 mg levels, was observed in 21.5% of cases. Importantly, no instances of macroalbuminuria, with levels exceeding 300 mg, were detected among the participants. There are associations between demographic variables and diabetic nephropathy findings. Age and gender displayed non-significant associations. Family history of diseases, particularly diabetes, showed significance. Diabetes duration demonstrated a significant link, while diet patterns displayed no significant associations. Conclusion This study contributes insights into the complex interactions of demographic factors in diabetic nephropathy. Early identification and intervention, guided by the associations observed, could enhance patient outcomes and mitigate the burden of diabetic nephropathy-related complications. Further research is warranted to validate and extend these findings to diverse populations.

Keywords: albuminuria; demographics; diabetes duration; diabetic nephropathy; diet patterns; early diagnosis; family history.