IJCM_279A: Evaluation of diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for urinary tract infection in women: A case control study

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) disrupts insulin production and function leads to hyperglycaemia and subsequently exacerbating the risk of complications. Studies highlight hyperglycaemia’s impact on neutrophil function, predisposing diabetic patients to severe infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and skin issues. Objectives: To quantify DM’s contribution to UTI development, and to assess the risk of contracting UTI conferred by diabetes mellitus in otherwise healthy women and to characterize the UTI in the cases. Methodology: The case control study was conducted among 200 participants (100 cases with UTI and 100 controls without UTI) from 3 hospitals affiliated to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. The data were collected using a structured proforma. Chi – square test and students ‘t’ test was used for comparison of the results across the groups. Results: Patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) showed a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (27.66%) compared to controls (7.45%). The UTI patients were 4.75 times more likely to have DM. Diabetic UTI cases exhibited elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) and random blood sugar levels than controls. Complicated UTIs were more prevalent in diabetic (77%) than non-diabetic (60%) UTI cases, with E. coli being the most common infecting organism. Conclusion: The uncontrolled diabetes mellitus confers an increased risk of developing UTI and the risk of developing UTI caused by organisms which are not known to cause infections in people with normal immunity (like Candida species). Additionally, diabetics show a higher proportion of complicated UTI cases as compared to non-diabetics.