Physical activity and albuminuria in individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

We aimed to investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity and the presence and development of albuminuria in individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at baseline.

This study was based on data from The Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 diabetes cohort (N = 832). We assessed moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time by 24-hour dual-monitor accelerometry at baseline and 4-years follow-up and investigated the association with albuminuria, defined as urine albumin/creatinine-ratio (UACR) ≥30 mg/g, measured from a urine sample. The odds ratio (OR) for the presence and development of albuminuria were investigated using multiple logistic regressions.

We found an inverse association between baseline MVPA and both presence (OR: 0.82; 95 % CI: 0.69-0.98) and incidence of albuminuria (OR: 0.74; 95 % CI: 0.59-0.94), independent of known confounding factors. However, sedentary time was not significantly associated with increased development of albuminuria. Moreover, neither decrease in MVPA (OR: 0.79; 95 % CI: 0.42-1.49) nor increase in sedentary time (OR: 1.03; 95 % CI: 0.98-1.09) were significantly associated with development of albuminuria from baseline to 4-years follow-up.

Our findings demonstrate an inverse association between baseline MVPA and development of albuminuria in individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. An increase in MVPA from baseline to follow-up inferred 21 % lower incidence of albuminuria after 4-years follow-up, albeit insignificant, likely due to the relatively small sample size at follow-up and the lack of larger changes in physical activity.

NCT02015130.