Relationship between high-normal albuminuria and arterial stiffness in Chinese population

High-normal albuminuria is related to the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness has been regarded as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between high-normal albuminuria and arterial stiffness is uncertain in Chinese population. A total of 1343 Chinese participants (aged 58.9 ± 12.1 years, 63.53% male) were included in this study. High-normal albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) above the median within normal albuminuria. Based on the level of UACR, all participants were divided into low-normal albuminuria group (UACR < 6.36 mg/g, n = 580), high-normal albuminuria group (6.36 mg/g ≤ UACR < 30 mg/g, n = 581), microalbuminuria (30 mg/g ≤ UACR < 300 mg/g, n = 162), and macroalbuminuria (UACR ≥ 300 mg/g, n = 20). Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). With the increment of UACR, the level of cfPWV was increased gradually (P < .001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure, age, serum creatinine, heart rate, logarithmic (LG)-transformed UACR, and fasting plasma glucose were independently associated with cfPWV in all subjects (P < .001). LG-UACR was found to be related to cfPWV in high-normal albuminuria and macroalbuminuria subjects. After further stratification in the high-normal albuminuria subjects, their relation remained in male, elderly over 65 years old, or normotensives. In summary, UACR is associated with arterial stiffness in subjects with proteinuria excretion in high normal level. High-normal albuminuria might be an early indicator of arterial stiffness, especially in male, elderly, or normotensives in Chinese population. Furthermore, age and blood pressure are still observed to be the most important risk factor of arterial stiffness.