Prevalence and Predictors of Urinary Tract Infections Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Attending Primary Health Care Centers in Buraidah City, Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

This study found that over two-thirds of type 2 diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia experience urinary tract infections, with cervicitis and catheter use as key risk factors.

Contribution

The study identifies specific predictors of UTIs in T2DM patients in a Saudi context, emphasizing cervicitis and Foley catheter use as significant risk factors.

Findings

67.9% of T2DM patients reported at least one UTI episode in 12 months.

Cervicitis and Foley catheter use were significant predictors of UTI with odds ratios of 3.55 and 2.29, respectively.

Antibiotic adherence was 62.4% among study participants.

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common occurrence among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM); it also depends on the duration and associated comorbidities. Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) can lead to long-term complications such as glomerulonephritis and prostatitis, and in some cases, bacteria may spread through the bloodstream, leading to sepsis. The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence and predictors of UTI among patients with type 2 DM (T2DM).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 primary health care centers (PHCCs) with attendees who had T2DM. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was created on Google Forms (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA) to be shared with PHCC attendees by the principal investigator through WhatsApp (Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, CA). About 72.5% (n=290) responded in our study. A convenience sampling method was used to select participants based on criteria. Data were transferred, cleaned, and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the predictors of UTI among patients with T2DM and their associated risk factors.

Results: This study found a significant prevalence of UTIs among patients with T2DM, with 67.9% (n=197) reporting at least one episode within 12 months. The mean age and standard deviation in the study population were 58.15 ± 12.71, with females being 54.5% (n=158). Frequent micturition (70%, n=203) and burning micturition (64.1%, n=186) were identified as major symptoms. Key risk factors included cervicitis and Foley catheter use, with notable odds ratios (OR): 3.55, CI: 1.266 to 9.959, P=0.016; OR: 2.29, CI: 0.858 to 6.160, P=0.098, respectively. Demographic factors such as age, education, and income showed no significant difference in UTI risk. The antibiotic adherence in the study group was 62.4% (n=181).

Conclusions: Nearly two-thirds (67.9%, n=197) had UTIs among patients with T2DM, with frequent and burning micturition as key symptoms. The predictors of UTI among patients with T2DM were major risk factors of cervicitis and Foley catheter use, while education and income showed no impact. The study highlights the need for early diagnosis of UTI, improved antibiotic adherence, and management strategies, including glycemic control, to reduce UTI risks.

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