Korean J Fam Med.  2017 Nov;38(6):372-379. 10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.6.372.

Association between Sarcopenia and Dipstick Proteinuria in the Elderly Population: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2009–2011

• Hwang D
• Cho MR
• Choi M
• Lee SH
• Park Y

• KMID: 2395331
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.6.372

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Sarcopenia and proteinuria are significant health difficulties in the elderly; however, few studies have investigated their relationship. In this study, we investigated the association between sarcopenia and proteinuria in Korean subjects over 60 years old.
METHODS
We included data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey conducted from 2009 to 2011 (n=4,008). Sarcopenia was defined using appendicular skeletal muscle mass as a percentage of body weight. Proteinuria was defined by a urine dipstick test result above trace levels.
RESULTS
The overall proteinuria prevalence was 7.2%. The incidence of sarcopenia was significantly higher in subjects with proteinuria. The prevalence of proteinuria was significantly higher in the sarcopenic group (5.5% vs. 14.5% in the non-chronic kidney disease (CKD) group; 17.2% vs. 23.2% in the CKD group) than in the non-sarcopenic group. Furthermore, sarcopenic participants had worse metabolic parameters, such as higher body mass indexes, waist circumferences, and fasting glucose levels, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than those in the non-CKD group. After adjustment for confounders, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for proteinuria were 2.84 (1.92-4.18) in the sarcopenic non-CKD group, 3.70 (2.59-5.30) in the non-sarcopenic CKD group, and 5.19 (2.64-10.18) in the sarcopenic CKD group, compared to the non-sarcopenic, non-CKD group. Sarcopenia increased the proteinuria risk in elderly participants without CKD, even after adjustment for obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
CONCLUSION
These findings showed that sarcopenia was associated with dipstick proteinuria, especially in elderly participants without CKD, regardless of comorbidities.

Keyword

Sarcopenia; Proteinuria; Chronic Renal Insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Cholesterol
Comorbidity
Fasting
Glucose
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence
Kidney Diseases
Korea*
Lipoproteins
Muscle, Skeletal
Nutrition Surveys
Obesity
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Proteinuria*
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Sarcopenia*
Waist Circumference
Cholesterol
Glucose
Lipoproteins