Urinary albumin excretion in children: Factors related to elevated excretion in the United States population

Past population studies have indicated a higher prevalence of high albumin excretion in children than in adults. In this study, NHANES III United Stat es population data was analyzed to study factors associated with elevated a lbumin excretion in children 8 to 18 years of age. The analysis confirmed a higher prevalence of albumin values > 30 mg/g creatinine and > 200 mg/g cr eatinine in children than in adults, and indicated that girls are two to th ree times more likely to have albumin excretion above these levels than boy s. Neither hypertension nor reported diabetes - major factors influencing a lbumin excretion in adults - accounted for the higher excretion levels in c hildren. The higher excretion levels were not associated with prescription medications or a poor rating of the child's overall health status by a phys ician. The higher prevalence is influenced by puberty stage and is more lik ely to occur in children with lower than average body mass index, independe nt of the relationship with urine creatinine excretion. The increased preva lence of high albumin excretion is probably associated with normal developm ent in children, bur an increased susceptibility to chronic diseases in the future among the children with high excretion cannot be ruled out.