The prevalence of microalbuminuria among patients with type II diabetes mellitus in a primary care setting: cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria among patients with type II diabetes mellitus in a primary care setting, and to study the association between various risk factors and the presence of microalbuminuria. DESIGN Cross-sectional community-based study. SETTING Four primary care clinics, Hong Kong. PATIENTS All patients with type II diabetes mellitus who regularly attended the clinics between May 2002 and March 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patients' demographic data, the proportion with microalbuminuria (measured using a spot urine test), and the association between this condition and risk factors for diabetic nephropathy (via correlation and multivariable logistic regression analysis). RESULTS The mean age of the 1161 patients in the sample population was 58.0 years. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 5.7 years, and the mean level of glycated haemoglobin was 7.4%. A total of 13.4% of the patients had microalbuminuria. Having the condition was significantly associated with advanced age, female sex, poor glycaemic control, and coexisting hypertension in both correlation and regression analyses. No significant association with ever smoking was found. CONCLUSION Early screening for incipient diabetic nephropathy and aggressive management of modifiable risk factors in a primary care setting may be important in optimising the renal outcome of patients with type II diabetes mellitus.