MICROALBUMINURIA IN YOUNG-ADULTS RELATED TO BLOOD-PRESSURE IN A BIRACIAL (BLACK-WHITE) POPULATION - THE BOGALUSA HEART-STUDY

The association between microalbuminuria and blood pressure levels was examined in young white and black adults (n = 1131) aged 19 to 32 yea rs. Urinary ratio of albumin (mg/L) to creatinine (mmol/L) was used as an estimation of urinary albumin excretion. Black men and women compa red with their white counterparts had higher levels of blood pressure. Significantly positive correlations between urinary albumin excretion and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed in black men (r = 0.20 and r = 0.24, P <.01) and black women (r = 0.15 and r = 0.1 4, P <.05). Similar correlations of significance were not seen in the white counterparts. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were significantly higher in normotensive black subjects (<140/90 mm Hg) wi th increased urinary albumin excretion (greater than or equal to 90th percentile) than in those without increased urinary albumin excretion. After accounting for potential confounding by age, sex, and body mass index, blacks in the uppermost systolic and diastolic blood pressure group were 7.1 times (95% CI, 2.0 to 25.8) and 4.8 times (1.3 to 18.3) , respectively, as likely to have elevated albumin/creatinine excretio n as those in the lowest group. In contrast, the likelihood for elevat ed albumin/creatinine excretion were 0.9 times (95% CI, 0.5 to 2.2) an d 1.1 times (0.5 to 2.3), respectively, in whites, which were not sign ificant. These data suggest that a stronger association between blood pressure levels and urinary albumin excretion exists in young blacks t han in whites, which supports the notion that blacks may be more susce ptible to renal damage from relatively low levels of blood pressure in creases. These observations have implications for prevention of progre ssive target organ changes to early hypertension.