ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND PROTEINURIA IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, QUETTA

Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and proteinuria are major microvascular complications of Type‑II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Their coexistence may reflect widespread systemic vascular damage, yet data from South Asia remain scarce. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes and the leading cause of decreased vision in working-age people (1). It is anticipated that the prevalence of DR is likely to continue to rise, particularly in Asia and other developing areas. Objective: To determine the frequency of DR and assess its association with proteinuria among T2DM patients at a tertiary care hospital in Quetta, Pakistan. To compare the frequency of diabetic retinopathy with proteinuria in patients presenting with type-II diabetes mellitus, at a tertiary care hospital, Quetta. Methods: A cross‑sectional study involving 228 T2DM patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and visited to Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta were included in the study after taken informed consent. Urinary collection was done to check proteinuria, and fundoscopy was done to check the diabetic retinopathy. All the collected data were entered into the proforma attached at the end and used electronically for research purpose. Results: DR was diagnosed by direct fundoscopy; proteinuria (>0.5 g/24 h) was measured using 24‑hour urine collection. Data were analyzed in SPSS v22; p < 0.05 was considered significant. The mean age was 52.7 ± 11.9 years; 57% were male. DR prevalence was 19.7% (45/228). DR occurred in 26/228 (11.4%) patients with proteinuria and 19/228 (8.3%) without proteinuria (χ², p = 0.0001). Mean ± SD of age was 52.7±11.9 years. In distribution of gender, 130 (57.0%) were male while 98 (43.0%) were female. Diabetes retinopathy was found to be in 45 (19.7%) patients. Diabetic retinopathy was noted in 26 (11.4%) patients with proteinuria while 19 (8.3%) without proteinuria and P-value found to be highly significant i.e., P=0.0001. Conclusion: Proteinuria is significantly associated with DR in T2DM patients. Integrated renal and ocular screening is recommended in routine diabetes care.