Microalbuminuria: prevalence in hypertensives and diabetics.

Background: Microalbuminuria is the mild elevation of urinary albumin excretion and reflects the progression of clinical nephropathy and cardiovascular disease and mortality risks of diabetic and hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for microalbuminuria amongst Turkish people who had diabetes and/or hypertension and were older than 35 years of age.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, from a pool of 7708 people over 35 years of age living in the Park Health Centre Area of Ankara, Turkey, we randomly selected 550 out of 926 hypertensive and/or diabetic patients. The area is also the research district of Ankara University Medical Faculty's Public Health Department. The results of 493 of those examined for microalbuminuria are represented in the study. An immunospecific dipstick Micral Test II was used for microalbuminuria screening and Medi-test urinary strip for macroalbuminuria. Additionally, blood pressure levels were recorded, fasting blood glucose levels were measured by Glucotrend and questionnaire forms were filled out. Chi square and logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analyses.

Results: In the study population, 439 patients were hypertensive, 194 patients were diabetic and of these, 140 were both hypertensive and diabetic. Overall prevalence of microalbuminuria was 19.1% and macroalbuminuria was 4.4% in the study group. Microalbuminuria prevalence was 18.9% in the hypertensive group and 21.7% in the diabetic group. In the hypertensive group, diastolic pressure level, male sex and type of accommodation, in the diabetic group, duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose levels and type of accommodation were all influential factors for microalbuminuria according to the results of the multiple logistic regression analyses.

Conclusion: Our study shows a high prevalence of microalbuminuria in both hypertensive and diabetic patients, males being at Special risk. Lowering of diastolic blood pressure and amelioration of living Standards should be the first goal of treatment according to our results.