Impact of hypothyroidism on early diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective observational study

Abstract Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that can develop in the short few years after the diagnosis. As a frequent comorbidity in T2DM, hypothyroidism could also cause renal impairment by metabolic and hemodynamic mechanisms. The current research is designed to assess the role of concomitant hypothyroidism in the development of diabetic nephropathy on an early stage in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed T2DM. Methods The sample consisted of 80 middle-aged patients with (T2DM) duration of five years or less. The involved participants were separated into two equal pools of study and reported to one of two groups, Group 1 ( n = 40) that comprised patients with both T2DM and with a hypothyroidism diagnosis, and Group 2 ( n = 40) comprising patients with T2DM diagnosis only. Comparison by Group: Demographic, metabolic parameters, markers of renal functions and such microvascular complications as nephropathy, retinopathy, and hypertension were compared. Results Significantly more participants in Group 1 were females ( p < 0.001), had a far higher body weight ( p = 0.044) and a higher BMI ( p = 0.009). Although the HbA1c levels were similar, Group 1 had attained much lower fasting blood glucose ( p = 0.042), postprandial glucose ( p = 0.002), and total cholesterol ( p = 0.023). Nephropathy was more frequent in Hypothyroid group though statistically insignificant (30% vs. 17.5% p = 0.189). Disease durations and albumin/creatinine ratio were also increased in patients with nephropathy. There were no important correlations in albuminuria duration on diabetes duration and hypothyroidism duration. Conclusion Although the existence of hypothyroidism among patients with early T2DM did not show a significant linkage of diabetic nephropathy, observed trends indicate the possibility of an additive effect on the renal risk. As these findings show, close attention to the performance of the thyroid should be paid, and early renal examination done in patients with diabetes.