Abstract:
Background and aims: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of morbidity and
mortality in diabetic patients representing a huge health and economic burden. Despite the
increasing number of patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Ethiopia, the incidence of diabetic
nephropathy in patients with DM has not been well established. Therefore, this study aimed to
estimate the incidence and predictors of DN in patients with T2DM at tertiary healthcare setting,
Ethiopia.
Methods: An institution based retrospective follow study was conducted from March 1 to April
28, 2019. Kaplan-meier survival curve together with log rank test were used. Cox proportional
hazard model was used at 5% level of significance to determine the net effect of each
explanatory variable on diabetic nephropathy. An assumption was check by schoenfeld residual
test.
Results: The incidence rate of diabetic nephropathy was 3.6% per 100 person-years (95% CI =
2.49-11.47). The median time to develop nephropathy was 100(95% CI, 96.7-107) months.
Predictors of diabetic nephropathy were males (AHR: 2.7, 95%CI: 1.39, 5.23), long duration of
diabetes (AHR: 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.06), HbA1c> 7% (AHR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.67, 3.12), high
density lipoprotein (AHR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.83), and mixed anti-diabetic therapy (AHR:
0.07, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.59).
Conclusion: The incidence of diabetic nephropathy among T2DM patients was relatively high.
Males, longer duration of diabetes, HbA1c, and fasting blood glucose were increase the risk of
diabetic nephropathy.