Frequency Of Proteinuria Among Patients With New Onset Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major global health concern associated with numerous microvascular complications, among which diabetic nephropathy are one of the most significant. Objective: To determine the frequency of proteinuria among patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from September 2024 to February 2025. A total of 257 patients aged 27–75 years with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were included using non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients with urinary tract infections or chronic kidney disease were excluded. Data were collected using a structured proforma after informed consent. Results: The mean age of participants was 51.6 ± 10.7 years. Of the 257 patients, 146 (56.8%) were male and 111 (43.2%) female. The overall frequency of proteinuria was 40.5%. Proteinuria was more common among hypertensive patients (48.3%) compared to normotensive patients (34.5%) (p = 0.03), and among smokers (50.0%) compared to non-smokers (37.0%) (p = 0.05). Increased prevalence was also observed in overweight/obese individuals (44.8%) and those aged ≥56 years (46.8%), though these were not statistically significant. Conclusion: A high frequency of proteinuria was observed among patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, indicating early renal involvement at the time of diagnosis. Routine screening for proteinuria at initial presentation should be emphasized, along with aggressive management of hypertension, obesity, and smoking to prevent progression to diabetic nephropathy.