The Prevalence of Microalbuminuria Among Hypertensive Patients Attending University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu Clinics.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria among patients with essential hypertension and its relationship with age of the patient, prevailing blood pressure and duration of illness. One hundred patients with essential hypertension attending clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku- Ozalla, in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria who gave their informed consent, participated in the study. Their random urine samples were analyzed. Samples that gave positive test results for overt proteinuria as well as those negative for both microalbuminuria and proteinuria were noted. Standard method was used to assay microalbumin in the rest of the samples. Of the one hundred patients, 24 (24%) 54 (54%) and 22(22%) had overt proteinuria, neither overt proteinuria nor microalbuminuria and microalbuminuria respectively. Their mean ages were 59.96(±10.81), 56.69(±10.81), and 59.45(±10.81) years respectively (p>0.05). Corresponding values for SBP were, 156.1(±30.14), 140.1(±28.0) and 143(±26.28) mmHg respectively (p>0.05); and for DSP, 87.20(±16.62), 82.64(±3.88), and 88.50(±14.34) mmHg respectively (p.0.05). The mean durations of illness for the three groups were 9.21(±7.9), 5.67(±5.62), and 5.55(±6.16) years respectively (p>0.05). The mean microalbumin value obtained for the group with microalbuminuria was 25.25(±3.70) mg/dl with a range of 13.8-30mg/dl. The rate of excretion of albumin did not correlate significantly with the blood pressure, age or duration of illness. A 22% prevalence rate of microalbuminuria recorded in this study is thought to be high since the patients were on drug treatment that was expected to reduce the figure. A frequent screening of patients of essential hypertension is indicated in order to prevent hypertensive nephropathy.

Keywords: Microalbuminuria; hypertension; proteinuria; end-stage renal failure