Dipstick Urine Protein, as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Mortality in Korean Men: Korea Medical Insurance Corporation Study

Ha, Kyoungsoo; Kim, Hyeon Chang; Kang, Dae Ryong; Nam, Chung Mo; Ahn, Song Vogue; Suh, Il

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate if the dipstick proteinuria can predict cardiovascular mortality in a population of Korean men. METHODS: We measured urine protein and other cardiovascular risk factors in 100059 Korean men, aged between 35-59 years in 1990 and 1992. Levels of proteinuria measured by dipstick method were trace or less, 1+, 2+, and 3+ or greater. The primary outcomes were deaths from all causes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and others in a 12 year follow-up from 1993 to 2004. RESULTS: The multivariate-adjusted relative risks (95% CI) for cardiovascular death according to the level of proteinuria (1+, 2+, 3+ and more) in 1990 examination were 2.18 (1.36-3.48), 2.55 (1.37-4.78), and 4.57 (2.16-9.66) respectively. The corresponding relative risks according to the level of proteinuria in 1992 examination were 2.49 (1.71-3.64), 2.64 (1.53-4.58), and 2.78 (1.15-6.73). The relative risks for cardiovascular death of men with proteinuria (1+ or greater) once and twice among the examinations were 2.18 (1.63-2.92) and 3.75 (2.27-6.18), compared with men without proteinuria in 1990 and 1992 examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that dipstick proteinuria is associated with cardiovascular mortality in Korean men. Dipstick proteinuria could be a predictor for cardiovascular mortality.