Prevalence of microalbuminuria and relationship to the risk of cardiovascular disease in the Japanese population

The prevalence of microalbuminuria and its relationship to cardiovascular d isease risk factors were examined in subjects participating in an annual ph ysical and laboratory examination program. The urinary albumin concentratio n and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were determined in morning urine specimens. A turbidimetric immunoassay was used for the measurement of uri nary albumin. Of the 731 subjects, 41 (5.6%) who were weakly positive or po sitive on a routine dipstick test for protein were excluded from the final analysis of data. Microalbuminuria was present in 14.5% of the men, in 12.4 % of the women, and in 13.2% of the entire subject population when defined as a urinary albumin concentration of 30299 mu g/ml. The prevalence of micr oalbuminuria was significantly higher in subjects with a high normal blood pressure (15.0%) or hypertension (26.2%) as compared with normotensive subj ects (6.5%). Subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (24.3%) or hyperglyce mic subjects (50.0%) had a significantly higher prevalence of microalbuminu ria than normoglycemic subjects (11.3%). The prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly higher in subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (47 .1%) as compared with those with normal electrocardiograms (11.3%). A good correlation was observed between urinary albumin concentration and albumin/ creatinine ratio, and both showed a significant positive correlation with a ge, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and fasting plasma glucose, tot al serum protein, albumin, and triglyceride levels, but not with angiotensi n-converting enzyme activity. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated tha t both the urinary albumin concentration and the albumin/creatinine ratio s how a significant positive correlation with systolic blood pressure and fas ting plasma glucose. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was about 13% in th is Japanese cohort, and the systolic blood pressure and the fasting plasma glucose level were demonstrated as independent risk indicators for both uri nary microalbumin level and urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio.