Prevalence of proteinuria and its associated factors in hypertensive diabetic patients

Hypertensive diabetic patients are at increased risk for chronic kidney disease. Proteinuria is an early sign of kidney damage. Limited research is available on proteinuria and on its associated factors in hypertensive patients with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of proteinuria and its associated factors in hypertensive diabetic patients.

The current retrospective study utilized medical records and hospital computers to collect sociodemographic and medical information about the study patients in two major hospitals in Jordan. Binary regression analysis was used to find the factors that are significantly and independently associated with the presence of proteinuria.

Data from 522 hypertensive diabetic patients were investigated. Factors including age (OR=0.691; 95% CI: 0.930-0.994; p<0.01), high-density lipoprotein level (OR=0.450; 95% CI: 0.211-0.960; p<0.05), and higher glomerular filtration rate (OR=0.964; 95% CI: 0.950-0.977; p<0.01) were associated with proteinuria among the study patients. In contrast to metformin (OR=0.237; 95% CI: 0.098-0.572; p<0.01), patients who received insulin (OR=1.992; 95% CI: 1.136-3.492; p<0.05), thiazide diuretics (OR=1.848; 95% CI: 1.108-3.083; p<0.05), calcium channel blockers (OR=1.833, 95% CI: 1.110-3.028, p<0.05), or beta-blockers (BBs) (OR=2.199, 95% CI: 1.257-3.848, p<0.01) had a higher likelihood of having proteinuria.

For preserving kidney function, it is deemed necessary to perform regular checkups for proteinuria among hypertensive diabetic patients, particularly in young patients, patients with low levels of high-density lipoprotein, and those with a lower glomerular filtration rate.