Diabetic Nephropathy in Hemodialysis Patients in Casablanca

Diabetes is the main cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the developed countries and its prevalence and incidence have been constantly increasing over the years. To determine the prevalence and profile of diabetic nephropathy in our ESRD population, we retrospectively studied 564 hemodialysis patients in ten dialysis units in Casablanca. The mean age was 49 ±16.2 years. The diabetic nephropathy came at the third rank with a prevalence of 13.5% behind chronic glomerulonephritis (21.8%) and hypertensive nephropathy (14.7%). Almost 74% of our diabetics were type 2. From the time of diagnosis the type 2 diabetics reached the ESRD earlier than the type 1 diabetics with a mean period of 15.1 ± 7 years and 18.8 ± 5 years, respectively; however, the difference was not statistically significant. There was at least another microangiopathic complication in 95.4% of the patients and macroangiopathic complication in 82%. The median hemoglobin A1C in all patients was higher than normal value. We conclude that ESRD is a serious complication of diabetes, which is constantly increasing. The appropriate management of diabetes and a multidisciplinary approach are necessary to avoid it or at least delay its occurrence.