Prevalence of urinary tract infection and risk factors among Saudi patients with diabetes

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) and its risk factors among Saudi diabetics. A total of 1,000 diabetic patients were included. Patients were interviewed and examined at each visit every 6 months. The prevalence of UTI was 25.3 % in total diabetic population and 7.2 and 41.1 % in males and females, respectively. Females have highest risk of UTI (RR = 6.102; CI = 4.343-8.573; P < 0.001). Age, duration of diabetes and HbA1c did not influence the incidence of UTI, while BMI above 30 kg/m(2) increased the risk (RR = 1.722; CI = 1.532-1.935; P < 0.001). The incidence of UTI in both type 1 and 2 diabetics was similar (23.7 and 25.6 %). There was no significant risk in patients aged above 60 years (RR = 1.054; CI = 0.841-1.321; P = 0.651). The risk factors found to be associated with UTI were hypertension (RR = 1.202; CI = 1.061-1.361; P = 0.006), insulin therapy (RR = 1.411; CI = 1.262-1.578; P < 0.001) and nephropathy (microalbuminuria) (RR = 1.417; CI = 1.036-1.939; P = 0.031). The present study has shown that prevalence of UTI is more in diabetic females and diabetics with BMI above 30 kg/m(2). The other risk factors associated with UTI in general diabetic population were found to be microalbumniuria, hypertension and insulin therapy.