Frequency of Nephrotic Syndrome Among Diabetes Mellitus Patients Presenting With Proteinuria at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide, often presenting with proteinuria as an early indicator of renal involvement. However, the occurrence of nephrotic syndrome in diabetic patients with proteinuria varies and carries important clinical implications for disease management and prognosis. Objective: To determine the frequency of nephrotic syndrome among diabetes mellitus patients presenting with proteinuria at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (SGTH), Swat. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (SGTH), Swat, Pakistan. Duration of Study: From 29-11-2024 to 29-05-2025. Methods: A total of 189 patients aged 30–70 years with confirmed diabetes mellitus and proteinuria were enrolled. Nephrotic syndrome was defined as a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (uPCR) ≥200 mg/mmol and serum albumin ≤2.5 mg/L. Demographic data, comorbidities, and biochemical findings were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, and associations were evaluated using the Chi-square test with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 57 ± 11 years, with a male predominance (118; 62.4%). Hypertension was observed in 117 (61.9%) patients. Nephrotic syndrome was identified in 88 (46.6%) of the study participants. A significant association was found between hypertension and nephrotic syndrome (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Nephrotic syndrome was highly prevalent among diabetic patients presenting with proteinuria in this study. The strong association with hypertension underscores the need for early screening and integrated management of renal and cardiovascular risks in diabetic populations.