Individuals with declined eGFR were older (p<0.001), had duration of diabetes longer (p=0.025), higher systolic blood pressure (p=0.010) and higher acid uric level (p<0.001), increased albumin excretion (p=0.009), and more proliferative retinopathy (p=0.011) than those with non-declined eGFR.
Patients were divided into three groups based on their urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) and the stage of diabetic retinopathy as follows: uncomplicated group (U), normal albuminuria (AER <20 microg/min) without proliferative retinopathy and with the duration of diabetes more than 20 years (N = 32); microalbuminuria group (M), 20 < or = AER < 200 microg/min (N = 155); overt nephropathy group (O), AER > or = 200 microg/min (N = 63).