title: Diabetic nephropathy and its risk factors in a society with a type 2 diabetes epidemic: a Saudi National Diabetes Registry-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and its risk factors have not been studied in a society known to have diabetes epidemic like Saudi Arabia. Using a large data base registry will provide a better understanding and accurate assessment of this chronic complication and its related risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54,670 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 25 years were selected from the Saudi National Diabetes Registry (SNDR) and analyzed for the presence of diabetic nephropathy. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) criterion was used to identify cases with microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria and end stage renal disease (ESRD) for prevalence estimation and risk factor assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was 10.8%, divided into 1.2% microalbuminuria, 8.1%macroalbuninuria and 1.5% ESRD. Age and diabetes duration as important risk factors have a strong impact on the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, ranging from 3.7% in patients aged 25-44 years and a duration of >5 years, to 21.8% in patients ≥ 65 years with a diabetes duration of ≥ 15 years. Diabetes duration, retinopathy, neuropathy, hypertension, age >45 years, hyperlipidemia, male gender, smoking, and chronologically, poor glycemic control has a significantly high risk for diabetic nephropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy is underestimated as a result of a shortage of screening programs. Risk factors related to diabetic nephropathy in this society are similar to other societies. There is thus an urgent need for screening and prevention programs for diabetic nephropathy among the Saudi population.
authors.affiliation: University Diabetes Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Rubeaan
authors.affiliation: Registry Department, University Diabetes Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amira M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shazia N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Subhani
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Department, University Diabetes Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Najlaa A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Department, University Diabetes Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmad H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Sharqawi
authors.affiliation: Family and Community Medicine Department, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hind M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Mutlaq
authors.affiliation: Information Technology Department, Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Satish K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Research Department, University Diabetes Center, King Saud University, Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dhekra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: AlNaqeb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors