ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Study the association between microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional analytic study of 1,111 cases with type 2 diabetic patients recruited from seven public hospitals, between June and December 2006 was performed RESULT: Two hundred eighty six subjects (79 males and 207 females) with urine dipsticks for microalbuminuria detection tested positive at least 2 of the 3 morning urine samples within 6 months. They were divided into 2 equal groups, micro- and normoalbuminuria based on quantity of albumin. Indirect ophthalmologic examination of all subjects' eyes for diabetic retinopathy was performed by ophthalmologists (retinal specialists). The present study showed that the proportion of diabetic retinopathy was 19.6% (28/143) and 12.6% (18/ 143) in micro- and normoalbuminuric groups, respectively. The difference of proportion between the groups was 7% but was statistically not significant (p = 0.108). CONCLUSION: Microalbuminuria detected using urine dipstick was not cross-sectionaly associated with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.
