Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Albuminuria in the Korean Adult Population: The 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

BackgroundMicroalbuminuria is associated with increased risk of renal disease and cardiovascular diseases even in non-diabetic subjects. High incidence rates of microalbuminuria have been found in a number of population-based studies. However, the prevalence and risk factors associated with microalbuminuria in the general population in Korea are unclear.ObjectivesThe present study was performed to estimate the prevalence of microalbuminuria and investigate the associated risk factors in the general adult population using the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-2) data from 2011.MethodsA total of 5,202 participants (mean age, 45.6 years; men, 2,337; women, 2,865) were included in the analysis. Microalbuminuria was evaluated in participants of KNHANES V-2 based on the urine albumin–creatinine ratio. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of microalbuminuria was 5.2% (95% CI, 4.4–6.1) in the general population. The prevalence of albuminuria is increased with age. After adjustment for age and sex, the presence of albuminuria was associated with increased waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes. In logistic regression analyses, older age, female sex, diabetes, hypertension, and serum aspartate aminotransferase were independently associated with the presence of albuminuria.ConclusionThe prevalence of microalbuminuria was found to be 5.2%, and conventional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are closely related to the presence of microalbuminuria in Korea. Microalbuminuria may be a useful marker to identify individuals with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Albuminuria Is Associated with Open-Angle Glaucoma in Nondiabetic Korean Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Since, unlike OAG, diabetic neovascular glaucoma occurs secondary to obstruction of the trabecular meshwork by neovascular membrane that develops in response to retinal ischemia, we confined the study population to nondiabetic subjects. The weighted prevalences of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in this study were found to be lower than those previously reported (5.2% for microalbuminuria and 1.0% for macroalbuminuria), as the previous study did not exclude diabetic patients [21]. The percentages of OAG increased in accordance with increasing UACR tertiles.…”

The relation of postprandial plasma glucose and serum endostatin to the urinary albumin excretion of residents with prediabetes: results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

“…Age was also significantly correlated with urinary albumin excretion in the below median endostatin group, but this correlation had only marginal significance in the above median group. In population studies that included diabetic patients, both age and fasting plasma glucose were independently associated with urinary albumin excretion [34,35]. However, in a prospective study of type 2 diabetic patients, not age but fasting plasma glucose was shown to be an independent risk factor for the development of micro-and macroalbuminuria [36].…”

Urinary Albumin Excretion Reflects Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women without Diabetes: The 2011 to 2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…We found a significant positive association between albuminuria and FRS, even for levels that were below the traditional cutoff value for microalbuminuria, and this association remained after adjusting for conditions potentially affecting the results, including traditional and nontraditional CVD risk factors. Hypertension has a known positive correlation with albuminuria [26]. After adjusting for hypertension history, the association was attenuated, but it remained significant.…”