Factors Associated With Microalbuminuria in 7,549 Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes in the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry

OBJECTIVE To examine factors associated with clinical microalbuminuria (MA) diagnosis in children and adolescents in the T1D Exchange clinic registry. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS T1D Exchange participants RESULTS MA was present in 329 of 7,549 (4.4%) participants, with a higher frequency associated with longer diabetes duration, higher mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, older age, female sex, higher diastolic blood pressure (BP), and lower BMI (P ≤ 0.01 for each in multivariate analysis). Older age was most strongly associated with MA among participants with HbA1c ≥9.5% (≥80 mmol/mol). MA was uncommon ( CONCLUSIONS Our results emphasize the importance of good glycemic and BP control, particularly as diabetes duration increases, in order to reduce the risk of nephropathy. Since age and diabetes duration are important nonmodifiable factors associated with MA, the importance of routine screening is underscored to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment of MA.