The prevalence and related factors of diabetic nephropathy in Shahroud

Diabetic nephropathy is a dangerous complication of diabetes which has a high prevalence among diabetic patients and is a cause of end stage renal failure in these patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate and determine the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and related factors of diabetic nephropathy in Shahroud. This descriptive study was carried out on 858 diabetic patients referred to diabetic center of shahroud city in 2011. General examination and nephrologic study with collection of urin protein in 24 hours and sonography was done. 858 patients with mean age of 47.9± 11.7 years were studied. Mean duration of diabetes, BMI and fasting blood glucose was 53.8±48.5 months, 27.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2 and 287.5 ± 158.4 mg/dl, respectively. 24hr urine protein exam showed 607 (70.7%) normal condition and 251 (29.3%) diabetic nephropathy, in which 23.4% had mild type and 5.9% had severe type. Significant relationship were observed between diabetic nephropathy and age of patients (p<0.005), type II diabetes (p<0.003), duration of diabetes (p<0.003), fasting blood sugar (p<0.008) and kind of anti-diabetic drugs (p<0.003), but there was not a relationship between gender and diabetic nephropathy (p=0.345). By timely diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, controlling the accelerating factors of diabetic nephropathy and informing the patients, we can decrease prevalence of this important complication of diabetes mellitus.