Prognostic Value of Microalbuminuria as an Early Marker of Renal Damage in Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients Without Diabetes

Resumen

Background: Hypertension is a major global public health concern and a leading contributor to cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. Persistent elevation of blood pressure causes progressive renal vascular and glomerular damage, often remaining clinically silent during the early stages. Microalbuminuria has emerged as a potential early biomarker of renal endothelial dysfunction and subclinical kidney injury in hypertensive patients, even before overt renal impairment becomes apparent.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of microalbuminuria as an early marker of renal damage in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This study will be conducted as a cross-sectional observational study among newly diagnosed non-diabetic hypertensive patients attending the medical outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, body mass index, and blood pressure measurements will be recorded. Urinary microalbumin levels, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) will be assessed. Statistical analysis will evaluate the association between microalbuminuria and indicators of renal dysfunction as well as hypertension severity.

Results: The study is expected to demonstrate a significant prevalence of microalbuminuria among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without diabetes. Higher urinary albumin excretion is anticipated to correlate positively with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure and negatively with eGFR values. Microalbuminuria is expected to serve as an independent indicator of early renal injury in this population.

Conclusion: Microalbuminuria may serve as a sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective early marker of renal damage in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without diabetes. Routine screening for microalbuminuria could facilitate early detection of target organ damage and enable timely therapeutic interventions to prevent progression to chronic kidney disease.