Association between elevated serum transaminase and moderately increased albuminuria: a cross-sectional study in western Tokushima, Japan.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the factors relating to moderately increased albuminuria among middle-aged and older individuals in Japan. METHODS: We conducted specific health examinations in which we measured albuminuria levels, and administered a questionnaire survey to record participants' lifestyles in western Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. A total of 1,660 people whose albuminuria was less than 300 mg/g creatinine (Cr) were analyzed. We divided participants into two groups-those with normal albuminuria (< 30 mg/gCr) and those with moderately increased albuminuria (≥ 30 mg/gCr, > 300 mg/gCr)-and compared their characteristics. To investigate all relevant factors, we conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The moderately increased albuminuria group were significantly older and had, among them, significantly higher percentages of a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2, diabetes, hypertension, and mild liver disorder (aspartate transaminase ≥ 31 U/L or alanine aminotransferase ≥ 31 U/L or gamma-glutamyl transferase ≥ 51 U/L). (p < 0.01) In a multivariate logistic regression analysis that used microalbuminuria as an independent variable, we found the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to be significantly higher among individuals with diabetes (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.40-2.99); hypertension (AOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.36-2.65); BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.27-2.44); and mild liver disorder (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10-2.18). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to diabetes, hypertension, and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, this study found that among the middle-aged and older general population living in western Tokushima Prefecture, there were cases of mild liver disorder (elevated serum transaminase), which independently associated with moderately increased albuminuria. Therefore, in health checkups targeting the general population, there is a need to consider measuring albuminuria, even in those who have only mild liver dysfunction (health guidance level). TRIAL REGISTRATION: N/A.

Moderately increased albuminuria, chronic kidney disease and incident dementia: the HUNT study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies has shown an association of albuminuria and low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with dementia, but the findings are inconsistent. This study examines the association between eGFR, MA with dementia and its subtypes: AD, VaD, a mixture of AD/VaD, and other dementias. METHODS: Data from the second wave of the HUNT 2 Study (1995-1997) were linked with a dementia register known as the Health and Memory Study (HMS) collected during 1995-2011 in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. Dementia was ascertained using World Health Organization's ICD-10 criteria into subtypes: AD,VaD, mixed AD/VaD, and other dementia. eGFR and its association with dementia was examined in 48,508 participants of the HUNT Study, of which 668 were diagnosed with all-cause dementia. Association between MA and dementia were studied in a subset of 7024 participants, and 214 were diagnosed with all-cause dementia. Cox regression models were conducted analyzing the association between dementia and MA using albumin creatine ratio (ACR). Cox regression models and Fine-Gray models were used to examine the association between dementia and eGFR. RESULTS: A positive association was found between increasing ACR and dementia. ACR in the fourth quartile (> 1.78 mg/mmol) with increased hazard ratio of VaD, 3.97 (1.12 to 14.07), compared with ACR in the first quartile (<.53 mg/mmol). There was no association between eGFR and dementia or its subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strengthens the hypothesis that vascular mechanisms may affect both kidney and brain as an association between MA and dementia was found. However, eGFR was not significantly associated with dementia independent of diabetes mellitus or hypertension.

Evaluation of the URiSCAN 2 ACR Strip to estimate the urine albumin/creatinine ratios.

BACKGROUND: The urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) test is used to screen patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases that put them at an increased risk of developing kidney disease. Here, we evaluated the performance of the URiSCAN 2 ACR Strip (URiSCAN; YD diagnostics, Yongin, Korea), a semiquantitative point-of-care testing (POCT) assay, and we compared to an existing POCT assay and a quantitative assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,020 random urine specimens were analyzed using the semiquantitative URiSCAN 2 ACR Strip and semiquantitative CLINITEK Microalbumin 2 Strip (CLINITEK; Siemens, New York, USA). We evaluated the precision of the URiSCAN 2 ACR Strip and compared the results of the ACR obtained from URiSCAN to those of CLINITEK with the quantitative results of a quantitative assay as a reference. RESULTS: The precision evaluation of the URiSCAN revealed a range between the cutoff (C50 )-20% and C50 +20% bounds, the C5 -C95 interval, with 85.8% confidence. URiSCAN and CLINITEK showed sensitivity and specificity of 87.7% and 72.2%, and 90.2% and 83.0%, respectively. The concordance rates of URiSCAN with CLINITEK and the quantitative assay were 75.6% and 79.1%, respectively. The concordance rate in the abnormal range (≥30 mg/g) between URiSCAN and the quantitative assay were higher than that between CLINITEK and the quantitative assay (78.8% vs 75.4%). CONCLUSIONS: URiSCAN showed good precision and comparable sensitivity with lower specificity than those of CLINITEK.

Prevalence and associations of moderately increased albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes in United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Our study sought to investigate the prevalence of moderately increased albuminuria in United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals with type 2 diabetes, and to identify the associated factors. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in two hundred and seven UAE nationals with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the internal medicine department of a secondary care hospital. Moderately increased albuminuria was estimated in random spot urine samples and was defined as urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) of 3-30 mg/mmoL. Prevalence and associations of moderately increased albuminuria were evaluated. RESULTS: The study population had a mean UACR of 7.2 ± 10.2 mg/mmoL with mean eGFR of 94.5 ± 11.7 mL/min/1.73 m2. Prevalence of moderately increased albuminuria in our study population was found to be 44.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that duration of diabetes (OR:1.72, 95% CI:1.34-2.19; p<0.001), presence of hypertension (OR:3.42, 95% CI:0.96-12.20; p=0.050) and neuropathy (OR:2.85, 95% CI:1.03-7.84; p=0.042), BMI (OR:1.08, 95% CI:1.01-1.16; p=0.019), HbA1c (OR:1.39, 95% CI:1.00-1.93; p=0.045), CRP (OR:1.10, 95% CI:1.00-1.22; p=0.035), serum creatinine (OR:1.04, 95% CI:1.02-1.06; p<0.001) and HDL-C (OR:0.10, 95% CI:0.01-0.28; p<0.001) were independently correlated with moderately increased albuminuria. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that duration of diabetes, HbA1c, CRP and serum creatinine were independent predictors of UACR. CONCLUSION: We report a high prevalence of moderately increased albuminuria in UAE nationals with type 2 diabetes in a secondary care setting. Routine screening and timely management of moderately increased albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus can lead to better patient outcomes.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments of risk factors associated with hypertension and moderately increased albuminuria comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 9-year open cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Moderately increased albuminuria (MIA) is strongly associated with hypertension (HTN) in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM). However, the association between risk factors and coexisting HTN and MIA remains unassessed. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of risk factors with HTN and MIA comorbidity in patients with T2DM. METHODS: A total of 1,600 patients with T2DM were examined at baseline and longitudinal data were obtained from 1,337 T2DM patients with at least 2 follow-up visits to assess the presence of HTN alone (yes/no), MIA alone (yes/no) and the coexistence of both (yes/no) in a 9-year open cohort study between 2004 and 2013. Bivariate mixed-effects logistic regression with a Bayesian approach was employed to evaluate associations of risk factors with HTN and MIA comorbidity in the longitudinal assessment. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and BMI, patients with uncontrolled plasma glucose, as a combined index of the glucose profile, were more likely to have HTN [odds ratio (OR): 1.73 with 95% Bayesian credible intervals (BCI) 1.29-2.20] and MIA [OR: 1.34 ( 95% BCI 1.13-1.62)]. The risks of having HTN and MIA were increased by a one-year raise in diabetes duration [with 0.89 (95% BCI 0.84-0.96) and 0.81 (95% BCI 0.73-0.92) ORs, respectively] and a one-unit increase in non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (Non-HDL-C) [with 1.30 (95% BCI 1.23-1.34) and 1.24 (95% BCI 1.14-1.33) ORs, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM patients with HTN, MIA, and the coexistence of both had uncontrolled plasma glucose, significantly higher Non-HDL-C, and shorter diabetes duration than the other T2DM patients. Duration of diabetes and uncontrolled plasma glucose index showed the stronger effects on HTN and MIA comorbidity than on each condition separately.