title: The prevalence and characteristics of microalbuminuria in the general population: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microalbuminuria is a marker of cardiovascular events. This study investigated the prevalence of microalbuminuria in the general population and the factors that can affect urinary excretion of albumin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apparently healthy subjects who participated in a health checkup at our hospital were enrolled in this study (n = 7963, male 64.0%, 56.2 ± 11.8 years old) Urine samples were collected for the measurement of albumin concentrations, which were expressed as the ratio of urinary albumin to creatinine concentrations (UACR [mg/g Cr]). Individual salt intake was assessed by estimating the 24-hour urinary salt excretion of subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean blood pressure was 124 ± 15/76 ± 10 mmHg and 31.6%, 7.4%, and 44.1% of subjects had hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, respectively. Urinary albumin was detected in 7265 subjects (91.2%: UACR ≥ 300 mg/g Cr, 0.5%; 300 > UACR ≥ 30 mg/g Cr, 4.6%; 30 > UACR ≥ 20 mg/g Cr, 2.4%; 20 > UACR ≥ 10 mg/g Cr, 8.7%; 10 > UACR ≥ 5 mg/g Cr, 21.8%; UACR < 5 mg/g Cr, 53.2%). In subjects with detectable albuminuria, UACR was independently correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, fasting plasma glucose, and salt intake after adjustment for possible factors (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of microalbuminuria was found to be 4.6% in the general population. The urinary excretion of albumin was closely associated with blood pressure and salt intake. These data indicated the importance of salt restriction for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Renal Medicine and Hypertension, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. ydohi@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Genjiro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D003404:Creatinine