Evaluation of microalbuminuria in patients with hypertension from North Indian population: A case-control study

Introduction: Microalbuminuria has recently emerged as an early marker of hypertension induced target organ damage. Microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients may act as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Objective:The aim of the study is to evaluate the levels of microalbuminuria in hypertensive (HT) patients and normotensive (NT) control subjects. Materials and Methods:In this case-control study, 42 HT patients and 42 age and gender matched NT controls were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) was measured by standard protocol. Urinary microalbumin and creatinine were estimated in spot urine sample of all subjects using commercially available kit. Chi-square test, unpaired t test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for Statistical analysis. The p-value<0> Results:In this study, results showed that more than half of the HT patients have smoking habits (59.3%), alcoholic habits (71.4%) and family history of HT (73.8%), which is significantly higher as compared to NT controls (p=0.02, p=0.004, p=0.02, respectively). Anthropometric parameters height, weight and BMI were found significantly higher in HT patients as compared to NT controls (p=0.01, p=0.007, p=0.001, respectively). Mean of SBP and DBP were also found significantly higher in HT patients than NT controls (p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). Urinary microalbumin, urinary creatinine and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were found significantly higher in HT patients as compared to NT controls (p=0.02, p=0.01, p=0.02, respectively). Correlation of various anthropometric and clinical parameters showed that ACR have significantly positive correlation with age in HT patients (r=0.364, p<0>negative correlation with age in HT patients, but not significant (r= -0.027). Similarly, ACR also have negative correlation with BMI, SBP and DBP in HT patients (r= -0.068, r= -0.145, r= -0.219, respectively), but these are not significant. Conclusions:Interestingly, more than half of the hypertensive cases have family history of HT in this study population. Urinary microalbumin, urinary creatinine and ACR were found significantly higher in HT patients than NT controls. ACR has significantly positive correlation with age in HT patients.