Association between low-grade albuminuria and cardiovascular risk in Korean adults: the 2011-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have indicated that low UACR levels (<30 μg/mg) previously considered to be in the normal range ('low-grade albuminuria') are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population.


METHODS
We studied 9,736 participants with albuminuria in the normal range from the 2011-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).


RESULTS
The weighted prevalences of metabolic syndrome (MS) and the 10-year risk for coronary heart disease measured using the Framingham risk score (FRS) ≥ 20% (high risk) were 22.5 ± 0.7% and 14.5 ± 0.7%, respectively, in males and 23.3 ± 0.8% and 8.5 ± 0.4%, respectively in females. Weighted comparisons among the tertiles of UACR revealed that the prevalences of MS and high-risk FRS increased with increasing UACR (MS: males, 15.9 ± 1.1, 20.2 ± 1.2, 32.4 ± 1.5%, respectively; P < 0.001; and females, 17.6 ± 1.0, 22.7 ± 1.0, 30.2 ± 1.4%, respectively; P < 0.001. High-risk FRS: males, 9.5 ± 0.7, 12.3 ± 0.9, 22.5 ± 1.2, respectively; P < 0.001; and females, 5.8 ± 0.6, 7.9 ± 0.7, 12.0 ± 0.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). The positive association persisted after adjusting for hypertension and diabetes. The weighted comparisons among the deciles of UACR revealed that the prevalences of MS and high-risk FRS began to increase at the ranges of 3.89-5.15 and 5.16-7.36 mg/g Cr, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-grade albuminuria was significantly associated with estimated cardiovascular risk and MS in a nationally representative sample of Koreans.
Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan-Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Koyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Jae Won
JW
Hong
Endocrinology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Cheol Ryong
CR
Ku
Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan-Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Koyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Jung Hyun
JH
Noh
Department of Internal Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kyung Soo
KS
Ko
Department of Internal Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Byoung Doo
BD
Rhee
Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan-Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Koyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Dong-Jun
DJ
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors