Urine albumin dipstick independently predicts cardiovascular and renal outcomes among rural Thai population: a 14-year retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria is an established risk marker for both cardiovascular and renal outcomes. In this study, we expected to use portable and inexpensive test strips to detect urine albumin level for risk stratification in cardiovascular and renal outcomes among rural Thai community. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between urine albumin dipstick and cardiovascular and renal complications in rural Thai population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in 635 rural Thai adults who tested urine albuminuria by using commercial urine albumin dipstick and the Micral-albumin test II strips at baseline. The subjects were divided into normoalbuminuria (albumin < 20 mg/L), microalbuminuria (albumin 20-200 mg/L), or macroalbuminuria (Urine dipstick at least 1+ or albumin > 200 mg/L). We collected data on the incidences of primary composite outcomes including cardiovascular or renal morbidity and mortality. Incident density and cox regression were analyzed to evaluate the association between albuminuria status and primary composite outcome. RESULTS: During an average 14-year follow-up, 102 primary composite events occurred including 59 (13.1%), 32 (20.6%) and 11 (39.3%) among 452, 155, and 28 subjects with normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, and macroalbuminuria, respectively. Incident densities of primary composite outcome were elevated continually according to the degree of albuminuria (9.36, 17.11 and 38.12 per 1000 person-years). Compared with the subjects without albuminuria, subjects with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria at baseline had higher risk for primary composite outcome in univariate model. After multivariate analysis was performed, the effect of macroalbuminuria was only persisted with 3.13-fold risk (adjusted HR 3.13; 95% CI 1.40-6.96, P= 0.005). CONCLUSION: Albuminuria from semi-quantitative methods is an important factor predicting cardiovascular and renal risk among subjects in Thai rural population. Our findings support to also incorporating urine albumin dipstick into assessments of cardiovascular risk in the general population.

Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in an Excellent Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic Compared with an Outpatient Clinic in a Primary Care Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In standard care, the physician attempts to control all known risk factors, but treatment goals are achieved with difficulty. Assistance by a multidisciplinary care team may improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiovascular and renal endpoints between patients with CKD receiving care from excellent CKD and outpatient clinics. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a primary care setting in Thailand. Patients with CKD stages 3 and 4 in excellent CKD (n = 96) and outpatient clinics (n = 192) were matched in a 1: 2 ratio with the propensity score. We collected data from electronic medical records concerning the incidences of primary composite outcomes including rapid renal progression, end-stage renal disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and mortality. Multidisciplinary team care in the excellent CKD clinic consisted of physician, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, physical therapist, and applied Thai traditional physician. The outpatient clinic consisted of physician care only. RESULTS: Subjects' mean age was 64.54 ± 10.96 years, and 52.1% were female. During an average 49.63 ± 8.36 months of follow-up, 74 events occurred including 35 (47.30%) patients who experienced renal events, 29 (39.19%) who experienced cardiovascular events, and 10 (13.51%) who experienced loss of life. The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated a higher percentage of subjects without primary composite outcomes in the excellent CKD clinic than those in the outpatient clinic (66.85%; 95% CI 0.48-0.80 vs. 44.71%; 95% CI 0.29-0.60; p = 0.005). From multivariate analysis, the excellent CKD clinic group had a 64% lower risk for primary composite outcomes compared with those in the outpatient clinic (adjusted HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.18-0.74; p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary care system can reduce composition outcomes including cardiovascular and renal outcomes for the growing CKD population. The optimal outcomes arise from the medical personnel's teamwork, not from one physician alone.