Aim: To determine the prevalence and determinants of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in type 1 Congolese diabetics aged less than 30 years.
Methods: Cross sectional study (june-july 2008) at the Primary Health Care Center Boyambi in Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo. HbA(1c) and urine albumin excretion (UAE) were measured by an enzyme immunoassay method. Determinants of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were assessed by logistic regression.
Results: One hundred and eighty-one type 1 diabetics (female gender: 61.3%) were included in this study. They were aged 19.1+/-5.8 years and were diabetics for 57.6+/-45.1 months. HbA(1c) was superior or equal to 10% in 88%, between 7 and 10% in 4% and inferior to 7% in 8%. Prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria was 21.9% and 7.3%, respectively. Diabetes duration superior to 5 years (OR: 4.1; 95% CI [1.9-8.4]), age superior to 18 years (OR: 2.9 [1.3-6.2]) and HbA(1c) superior to 10% (OR: 2.6 [1.1-6.4]) were independent determinants of pathological UAE.
Conclusion: Microalbuminuria and even macroalbuminuria are very frequent in type 1 Congolese diabetics aged above or equal to 30 years, especially in those aged above 18 years and diabetics for more than 5 years. Improving diabetes control and treating microalbuminuria is urgently needed to prevent renal insufficiency among children and young adults with type 1 diabetes of The Democratic Republic of the Congo.