Dataset Information

Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio within normal range and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality among U.S. adults enrolled in the NHANES during 1999-2015.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is one of the important diagnostic markers of chronic kidney disease. We aimed to investigate the association between UACR within normal range and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality.

Methods

This study included a nationally representative sample of 31,413 U.S. adults aged greater than or equal to 20 years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2014. Mortality was ascertained through 2015. We used multivariable Cox proportional models to investigate the association of UACR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Stratum-specific analyses were conducted by age, sex, race, education status, and comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease).

Results

Over a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 2854 all-cause deaths and 454 cardiovascular deaths were identified. Higher UACR (per 10 mg/g) was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval = 1.22-1.37) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.34, 95% confidence interval = 1.17-1.55). The association was larger among women for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and among younger and highly educated participants only for all-cause mortality. The association did not differ by the presence of comorbidities.

Conclusions

Elevated UACR within normal range was associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk across almost all subgroups including participants without comorbidities. Our findings suggest the importance of the early detection of albuminuria and careful evaluation of UACR even within normal range to reduce mortality risk.

SUBMITTER: Inoue K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8202057 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceAlthough cumulative evidence suggests that elevated urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in the normal range (<30 mg/g) may be associated with an increased risk of mortality, few studies have investigated whether cardiovascular health (CVH) modifies the harmful outcomes of high-normal UACR.ObjectiveTo investigate associations of traditionally normal UACR and CVH with all-cause mortality.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005 through 2018 and linked mortality information until 2019. Data were analyzed from March 1 through October 31, 2023. The study included adult participants aged 20 to 79 years with a normal UACR (<30 mg/g) based on Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria.ExposuresThe UACR was treated as a continuous variable and categorized into tertiles delineated as low (<4.67 mg/g), medium (4.67-7.67 mg/g), and high (7.68 to <30 mg/g). Cardiovascular health was assessed using Life's Essential 8 scores and grouped as poor (0-49 points), moderate (50-79 points), and ideal (80-100 points).Main outcomes and measuresMultivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for associations of UACR with all-cause mortality in total participants and as stratified by CVH groups.ResultsThe study included 23 697 participants (mean [SD] age, 45.58 [15.44] years; 11 806 women [49.7%] and 11 891 men [50.3%]). During the median 7.8 years (range, 4.5-11.1 years) of follow-up, 1403 deaths were recorded. Near-linear associations were observed for continuous UACR and CVH with all-cause mortality. Compared with the low UACR group, high UACR in the normal range showed an increased mortality risk in the moderate and poor CVH groups (CVH [50-79]: HR, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.26-1.89]; CVH [0-49]: HR, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.10-2.20]), with a significant multiplicative interaction of UACR and CVH (P < .001).Conclusions and relevanceThe findings suggest that high UACR within the normal range is associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality, with the association more pronounced in adults with poor CVH status. These findings highlight the importance of risk management for early kidney dysfunction, particularly among individuals with poor CVH.