ABSTRACT
Although Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) is more common in South Asians than in Europeans in the UK, very little is known about complications and their risk factors in South Asians. We sought microalbuminuria in a cross-sectional study of 583 European and 889 South Asian Type 2 DM clinic attenders to Ealing Hospital, London, over 1 year. Albumin/creatinine ratios were measured in early morning urines. Prevalence of microalbuminuria was greater in South Asians compared to Europeans (40% versus 33% in men, p = 0.003, and 33% versus 19% in women, p < 0.0001). Glycaemic control was worse and prevalence of hypertension, retinopathy and heart disease was higher in South Asians. Key risk factors for microalbuminuria in both ethnic groups were glycaemic control, diabetes duration, blood pressure, triglyceride and retinopathy, but none accounted for the higher microalbuminuria prevalence in South Asians. Age and sex adjusted odds ratio for microalbuminuria was 1.78 (95% CI 1.02, 2.82, p = 0.02) in South Asians versus Europeans. After adjustment for confounders, this became 2.07, 95% CI 1.13, 3.79, p = 0.02. We conclude that microalbuminuria is more common in South Asians with Type 2 DM than in Europeans and, although risk factor relationships appeared similar in both groups, and some risk factors were more prominent in South Asians, this cannot account for the high prevalence of microalbuminuria observed in South Asians.
Subject(s)
Albuminuria/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/urine , Age Factors , Age of Onset , Aged , Asia/ethnology , Blood Pressure , Cholesterol/blood , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/physiopathology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Diet, Diabetic , Ethnicity , Europe/ethnology , Female , Humans , Insulin , London/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Triglycerides/blood , White PeopleSubject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Diabetic Angiopathies/epidemiology , N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/blood , Acute-Phase Reaction/blood , Acute-Phase Reaction/complications , Acute-Phase Reaction/epidemiology , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/physiopathology , Diabetic Angiopathies/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Sex CharacteristicsABSTRACT
Hyperkalaemia is associated with diabetes, but there are no recent reports of its prevalence and associations. Serum potassium concentrations were measured in all 1764 patients attending a diabetic clinic over a 12-month period and found to be > 5.0 mmol/l in 270 (15%), and > 5.4 mmol/l in 67 (4%). There was no other evident cause of hyperkalaemia in 41 of these 67 patients. These data serve to highlight the risk of dangerous hyperkalaemia in diabetic patients, particularly with concurrent administration of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics.