Albuminuria as a biomarker for risk of retinopathy in type II diabetic patients in Suez Canal area

Aim: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of albuminuria in type II diabetes mellitus and report its influence, as a risk factor, for the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Subjects and Methods: During the period of January 2012 to May 2013, 420 type II diabetic patients were examined. Albuminuria adjusted for creatinine concentration was measured. Body mass index and hemoglobin A1c were also measured. Patients were evaluated by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy and were classified as non-retinopathy, non-proliferative, proliferative or diabetic maculopathy. Results: The prevalence of albuminuria among type II diabetic patients in this study was 40.2%. The prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were 30.7% and 9.5% respectively. The study also showed an association between the degree of albuminuria and severity of retinopathy. Nearly 97.5% of the macroalbuminuric patients had sight threatening forms of retinopathy (proliferative diabetic retinopathy + diabetic maculopathy DM) compared with 87%of the microalbuminuric and only 15% of the normoalbuninuric patients. Conclusion: Micro- or macroalbuminuria are highly prevalent in subjects with type II diabetes. Subjects with micro- and macroalbuminuria are more likely to have DR compared with those without albuminuria.