Introduction: Microalbuminuria presents significant health risks for the progression of endstage renal-failure (ESRF) among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This study aims to determine the proportion and associated factors of microalbuminuria among T2DM patients in Kuala Selangor district, Malaysia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to February 2021 using secondary data from the National Diabetic Registry (NDR), Malaysia, and reviewed patients’ diabetic records for the year 2020. All T2DM patients aged ≥18 years who were registered with the NDR in 2020 and fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0. A total of 343 samples were included in this study for the determination of the proportion of microalbuminuria and its associated factors. Results: Of 343 respondents, 34.4% had microalbuminuria. HbA1c >7.0% (AdjOR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.35, 3.55, p=0.001), HDL <1.04 mmol/L (AdjOR 2.44, 95% CI: 1.323, 4.52, p=0.004), dyslipidaemia (AdjOR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.48, p=0.039), and peripheral neuropathy (AdjOR 3.01, 95% CI: 1.02, 8.93, p=0.047) were significantly associated with microalbuminuria. Conclusion Microalbuminuria is a modifiable risk factor in preventing the progression of ESRF among T2DM patients. Therefore, identification of factors associated with microalbuminuria among this high-risk group is important to facilitate early screening and prompt treatment to prevent progression of diabetic kidney disease to ESRF.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glycated Hemoglobin

Introduction: Effective post-operative analgesia is a major factor in functional outcome after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). To reduce post-operative pain and expedite recovery, peripheral nerve blocks, such as the femoral nerve block (FNB) have been used as an adjunct to the analgesic regime. We assessed whether the addition of a FNB to continuous epidural analgesia (CEA) would improve pain control after TKA. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomised, controlled study was conducted on 58 patients undergoing TKA and randomised into two groups. The CEA+FNB Group received a single-shot FNB of 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine using a nerve stimulator technique. The CEA Group acted as a control group and did not receive FNB. Patients in both groups then received combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia for the surgery. Post-operative epidural infusion with 0.1% bupivacaine and 2 μg/ml of fentanyl, at 6 ml/hr was continued up to 48 hours post-operatively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, motor blockade, requirement of rescue analgesia and patient satisfaction were recorded. : Results: VAS scores were not significantly different between the CEA+FNB and CEA groups during rest (3 vs. 2) and flexion (5 vs. 6) on postoperative day-1 and during rest (1 vs. 2) and flexion (4 vs. 4) on postoperative day-2. There was no significant difference in rescue analgesia required, the volume of epidural infusion, motor blockade or patient satisfaction between both groups. Conclusion We concluded that the addition of FNB to epidural infusion did not improve analgesia after TKA.