Microalbuminuria in Diabetic Patients in the Bamenda Health District

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and it accounts for onethird of all patients requiring renal replacement therapy in Africa. Diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (MA) have an increased risk of progression to macroalbuminuria and later to ESRD. So detecting MA which is a marker of DN helps to alert the clinician to intervene at a time when future renal damage is still preventable. The main goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of MA in diabetic patients at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. This study was a prospective cross sectional study involving diabetic patients at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. A random (spot) or first morning urine specimen was collected and MA was measured by a semi quantitative dipstick method using the URS-14H urine test strips. The prevalence of MA in the present study was 34.6%, which is high but similar to the results of other studies done in sub-Saharan Africa. Although MA was more common (50%) in individuals with diabetes more than 16 years, a high proportion (42.85%) of patients with MA had a duration of diabetes of ≤ 5years. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of MA with respect to age, gender and duration of diabetes. This study showed a high prevalence of MA in the diabetic population presenting at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Consequently, measures of glycemic control should be enhanced in this population to prevent the progression to macroalbuminuria and ESRD.

Prevalence of Microalbuminuria Among Diabetes Patients in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…69 According to the current study, the overall pooled prevalence of MAU among diabetes patients in Africa was 37.11% (95% CI: 31.27-42.95). This finding indicated that a significant proportion 40 37.12 31.15-43.09 Muse et al (2020) 41 36.75 30.83-42.67 Ogiator et al (2020) 42 37.17 31.18-43.16 Ufuoma et al (2016) 43 36.37 30.66-42.09 Halliru et al (2016) 44 37.22 31.22-43.22 Erasmus et al (1992) 45 36.63 30.74-42.52 Bissong et al (2017) 46 37.20 31.21-43.18 Efundem et al (2017) 47 37.87 31.95-43.79 Rahamtalla et al (2012) 48 36.91 30.97-42.85 Lutale et al (2007) 49 37.92 32.03-43.82 Lutale et al (2007) 49 37.98 32.25-43.71 Ghosh et al (2012) 50 37.39 31.35-43.43 Kantarama et al (2021) 51 36.27 30.53-42.0 Martin et al (2018) 52 36.84 30.89-42.79 Martin et al (2018) 52 36.64 30.74-42.55 Kiconco et al (2019) 53 37.59 31.56-43.62 Lubwama et al (2022) 54 37.88 31.97-43.79 Kalk et al (2010) 55 37.04 31.08-43.0 Molefe et al (2018) 56 36.87 30.89-42.85 Ramaphane et al (2021) 57 37.41 31.39-43.44 Fetni et al (2021) 58 37.23 31.14-43.32 Fetni et al (2021) 58 37.03 31.09-42.98 Eghan et al (2007) 59 36.93 30.96-42.90 Amolo P (2010) 60 38.09 This pooled prevalence of MAU among type 2 diabetes patients is comparable to the findings (39%) of a global crosssectional study on type 2 diabetes patients conducted in 33 countries. 70 A similar result of 35.1% (12.3-74.5%) was reported in large, multiple international cohort studies including >3 million participants.…”

“…For analysis purposes, studies done by Rahlenbeck et al, Martin et al, Lutale et al, and Fetni et al were extracted twice because they reported the prevalence of MAU separately for type 1 and type 2 DM. The studies were conducted in 14 different countries, including Ethiopia (2 studies), 40,41 Nigeria (6 studies), [42][43][44][45]66,67 Cameroon (3 studies), 46,47,64 Sudan (2 studies), 48,65 Tanzania (3 studies), [49][50][51] Uganda (2 studies), [52][53][54] South Africa (1 study), 55 Botswana (2 studies), 56,57 Algeria (1 study), 58 Ghana (1 study), 59 Kenya (1 study), 60 Egypt (1 study), 61 Senegal (1 study), 62 and Zambia (2 studies) 39,63 (Table 1).…”