Characteristics and significant predictors of detecting underlying diseases in adults with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria: a large case series of a Korean population.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To provide detailed characteristics of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, as well as to identify the significant predictors of detecting underlying diseases of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, by evaluating a large Korean population. METHODS: We obtained data from healthy adults over the age of 20 years who underwent the health-screening program from 2005 to 2010 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, resulting in 56,632 participants included in the analysis. Patients who had microscopic hematuria (five red blood cells/high-power field) were referred to a urological outpatient clinic for further urological evaluation. An underlying disease of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria was predefined as a urinary stone, renal mass, urothelial cancer or other relevant lesions. RESULTS: At the initial urinalysis, 6.2% (3517/56,632) were diagnosed with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. Of these, 1619 participants underwent repeat urinalysis within 1 year after screening, and 911 (56.3%) participants were detected with microscopic hematuria again. We identified 131 lesions (3.7%) as underlying diseases for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, with urinary stone as the most common cause. Just six lesions were malignant three renal cell carcinomas and three bladder cancers. Male sex and diabetes mellitus were significant predictors for detection of underlying diseases of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. CONCLUSIONS: Herein we report the largest screening case series of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria including approximately 60,000 asymptomatic participants studied at a single institution. These findings provide clinical practice information for the management of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria in adults.