Burden and predictors of diabetic kidney disease in an adult Ugandan population with new-onset diabetes

Despite the growing evidence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in adult patients with long-standing diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, data on its burden and correlates in adult African patients with new-onset diabetes are limited. We, therefore, undertook this study to determine the burden and predictors of DKD in an adult population with new-onset diabetes in Uganda. We collected data on the relevant sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic characteristics in 519 participants with newly diagnosed diabetes recruited from seven tertiary hospitals. A spot mid-stream urine sample was collected for determination of the urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) using Clinitek® microalbumin strips and a point-of-care Clinitek® status analyser. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) was determined using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology formula. The presence of DKD was defined as a spot UACR ≥ 3 mg/mmol with or without an e-GFR