Renal Diseases Risk Factors among Diabetic Patients with and without Hypertension in Messelata Region, Libya

Background: Diabetes and its complications are a major growing health problem in developing countries like Libya. High blood pressure is a complication of diabetes and both diseases are independent risk factors that lead to cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the risk factors for kidney disease in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with and without hypertension in the Messelata region.

Materials and Methods: This study included 240 diabetics with and without high blood pressure and 120 healthy subjects of both sexes (60 males and 60 females in all groups), attending the Messelata Central Hospital. The participants’ blood pressure was measured in all groups, and age, gender were recorded for all study subjects. 5 ml of venous blood was drawn to measure the levels of glucose (FBS), hemoglobin (HbA1c), urea, creatinine, uric acid, Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca++, and Phosphorus. Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated for all subjects.

Results: The statistical analysis of the results showed that 71.7% females, 75% males with diabetes, and 78.3% females, 85% males with diabetes and hypertension were in age >50 years. HbA1c was> 9% in 43.3%, 33.3% of male diabetics only and diabetes and hypertension, in 36.7% of diabetic females, and diabetic with hypertension. Serum urea and creatinine levels were abnormal in 15%, 45%, 5%, and 5% & 21.7 %, 45%, 3.3%, and 5% of males diabetic, males diabetic + hypertension, females diabetic, and females diabetic + hypertension, respectively. Serum K+ levels were abnormal in 3.3%, 15%, and 10% of males diabetic, males diabetic + hypertension, and females diabetic + hypertension, respectively. Serum Na+ levels were abnormal in 21.7%, 10%, 11.7%, and 13% of males diabetic, males diabetic + hypertension, females diabetic, and females diabetic + hypertension . Also, the abnormal values of eGFR were (<60 ml/min/1.73m2) in 3.3%, 90%, 93.3%, and 3.3% of males diabetic, males diabetic + hypertension, females diabetic, and females diabetic + hypertension, respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the results showed a significant changes in most of the parameters in diabetic patients with and without hypertension compared to healthy subjects. Most of these changes were more pronounced in diabetics with hypertnsion patients than diabetics patients only.

Keywords: Renal disease risk factors, Kidney function, Electrolytes, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Messelata region Libya.