Microalbuminuria in controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Microalbuminuria assessment using albumin: creatinine ratio (ACR) by ELISA in early morning urine sample was studied in 83 (43 males, 40 females) normotensive type 2 diabetic patients and 40 (20 males; 15 females) age matched apparently healthy control subjects attending the medical outpatient clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The prevalence of microalbuminuria among the diabetic patients was found to be 60% and 30% among the controls. The level of microalbuminuria was found to correlate with age, duration of diabetes, blood pressure and waist:hip ratio. In both the patients and the controls, microalbuminuria was uncommon below the age of 50 years. The study highlights the contribution of a background renal insult as the probable reason for the high prevalence of microalbuminuria.