Diabetic nephropathy among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital

Diabetic nephropathy has been known as one of the most serious long-term complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), which could lead to end-stage kidney failure. However, data showing the presence of diabetic nephropathy among ambulatory type 2 diabetic patients is currently not available. This cross-sectional study was conducted to find the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy among non-hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients, who came for the first time to the Metabolic and Endocrinology Clinic, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. From December 2001 to June 2002, 100 new type 2 diabetic patients were included in the study. Forty-two of them were men and the mean age was 54 ± 9.6 years. Overt nephropathy (macroalbuminuria) was found in 11% of patients, while incipient nephropathy (microalbuminuria) was 26%, and the rest were normal (normoalbuminuria). Duration of illness of more than 5 years was significantly correlated with the degree of albuminuria. However, there is no significant correlation between the degree of albuminuria and other risk factors, i.e. patient';s age, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, HbA1c level. All patients with overt nephropathy had creatinine clearance test below 75 ml/ min. (mean 45.3 mL/min), significantly lower than patients with micro- or normoalbuminuria (p=0.01). Retinopathy was found in 10 out of 11 (90%) patients with overt nephropathy. Multivariate analysis showed that the duration of illness and retinopathy was significantly correlated with the presence of diabetic nephropathy (p< 0.05). We concluded that the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy (i.e. overt nephropathy with retinopathy) among non-hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients was 10%. The duration of illness was an important risk factor for the development of this complication. (Med J Indones 2004; 13: 161-5)