ISSN No. 2079-8547 (Recognized by PMDC)
ASSOCIATION OF HYPERURICEMIA WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY INTYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS
Abstract
Objective: To determine the association of hyperuricemia with diabetic nephropathy in the patients of Type 2 diabetes
mellitus.
Methodology: This descriptive and cross sectional study was performed in the Medical Unit of Hayatabad Medical
Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan from April 2013 to December 2013. We included 163 diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes
mellitus in this study. The patients were collected from the hospital OPD and wards. Along with other routine investigations,
blood urea, creatinie, fasting blood sugar, urine for albumen and serum uric acid levels were performed from the
same laboratory on more than one occasion. Serum uric acid level of 7mg% in male and 6.5mg% or above in female
was labeled as hyperuricemia. Albumen urea or createnine level of 1.3mg% or more was labeled as nephropathy in
the patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients having reasons for hyperuricemia and albumen urea other than type
2 diabetes mellitus (see full text), were excluded from the study.
Results: One hundred and sixty three (163) diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled for the study.
Forty six percent (n=75) were male and 54% (n=88) were females. Their age range was 34 to 90 years (mean 59.8
±10.3). Fifty four percent (n=88) of our patients were hypertensive. The majority 78% (n=127) of the subjects were
on oral hypoglycemic agent, 9% (n=15) were on insulin treatment and 13 % (n=21) were on a combination of oral
hypoglycemic agents and insulin. A higher mean waist circumference and BMI was noted in females (94.6±8.5 cm and
28) as compared to males (91.4±9.6 cm and 26.5). Twenty-five percent (n=41) patients were having hyperuricemia. It
tends to be a bit higher in the females 30.76% (n=25) than males 20% (n=16). There was no age difference between
subjects with hyperuricaemia and normouricaemic subjects (60±10 vs 59.7±10.5). About nineteen percent (n=32)
were having diabetic nephropathy with and without impaired renal functions. Overall hyperuricemia was more prevalent
in patients with diabetic nephropathy 50% (n=16) than those without nephropathy 19% (n=25).
Conclusion: Overall hyperuricemia is common in type 2 diabetic patients and amongst these patients; it is comparatively
more common in the patients of diabetic nephropathy. This factor is independent of gout and occasionally patients
have been treated as gout with osteoarthritis of different joints which is quit common in these patients. Whether these
patients need to be treated for hyperuricemia, is out of the scope of this study.
Key Words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, hyperuricemia, albumenurea.