ABSTRACT
"Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria (MA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to identify the associated risk factors. Settings and Design: The study was a prospective; descriptive; cross-sectional study carried out in the medical outpatient department of the Central Hospital; Warri from March to August 2014 after approval by the hospital's health and ethics committee. Materials and Methods: Two hundred T2DM aged 45-80 years were randomly selected for the study after obtaining their informed consent. Three-morning urine samples collected at 1-month interval were tested for MA using the ""MICRAL test"" strip. A fasting blood sample was also drawn after 10-12 h overnight fasting for plasma glucose; hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c); lipid profile; and serum creatinine investigations. MA was diagnosed if the urinary albumin excretion ratio was between 30 and 300 mg/24 h from two separate urine samples. Statistical Analysis Used: Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16. Differences at P 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The prevalence of MA was 58. The mean age; duration of T2DM; systolic blood pressure; fasting blood glucose; HbA1c level; serum creatinine of type 2 diabetes with MA were significantly higher when compared to T2DM patients without MA while the mean diastolic blood pressure body mass index and age did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of the MA among type 2 diabetes visiting a medical outpatient clinic in Central Hospital; Warri were high and similar to that reported in other studies."