CORRELATION OF SERUM URIC ACID LEVEL WITH LEVEL OF URINARY ALBUMIN IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality among individuals with diabetes mellitus. Uric acid, a final product of purine metabolism, has been increasingly linked with renal dysfunction and progression of nephropathy. Albuminuria is considered a key marker of renal injury, reflecting glomerular and tubular damage. While extensive research has been conducted globally, limited evidence is available from Pakistan, where genetic diversity and varying environmental exposures may influence disease patterns. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum uric acid levels and urinary albumin excretion in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Methods: This correlational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, between 26th September 2024 and 25th March 2025. A total of 84 patients, aged 18–70 years, with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy, were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Exclusion criteria included liver disease, gout, renal transplant, and medications influencing uric acid levels. Serum uric acid was measured from venous blood samples, and 24-hour urine collections were performed for albumin estimation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26, with Pearson correlation applied to assess the relationship between serum uric acid and urinary albumin. Results: The mean age of participants was 50.65 ± 5.29 years, and the mean diabetes duration was 8.27 ± 3.09 years. Males comprised 44 patients (52.4%). Microalbuminuria was present in 46 patients (54.8%), while 24 patients (28.6%) had macroalbuminuria, and 14 patients (16.7%) had normal urinary albumin. Raised serum uric acid (>7.2 mg/dl) was detected in 26 patients (31.0%). The mean urinary albumin was 210.62 ± 197.14 mg/24 hr, and mean serum uric acid was 6.79 ± 1.25 mg/dl. Pearson correlation revealed a strong positive association (r = 0.788, p = 0.000) between urinary albumin and serum uric acid.Conclusion:A significant positive linear correlation was established between serum uric acid and urinary albumin in diabetic nephropathy, suggesting that uric acid may serve as an additional marker of renal injury in diabetes.