A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Obesity and Albuminuria in Asian People

Obesity-related renal dysfunction is largely attributed to hemodynamic alterations and insulin resistance. Among individuals with overweight or obesity, albuminuria has been shown to be independently and inversely associated with circulating adiponectin levels in the absence of diabetes. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate and quantify the independent association between obesity and the risk of kidney disease, as assessed by the presence of albuminuria in the Asian Population. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive and systematic search strategy was applied across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, ProQuest, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley, to identify relevant studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Data synthesis and statistical analyses were carried out using Review Manager (RevMan) software Version 5.4, and the methodological rigor of the included studies was independently assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The pooled analysis demonstrated that obesity was significantly associated with albuminuria in the general population as well as in sex-specific subgroups. Specifically, the odds of albuminuria were higher among individuals with obesity in the overall population (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.09-2.83; p = 0.02, I ² = 78%), in men (OR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.05-1.71; p = 0.02, I ² = 63%), and in women (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.05-1.28; p = 0.004, I ² = 19%). Obesity was associated with albuminuria in Asian Populations.