Albuminuria in Rural Thai People: A Community-Based Screening with Combur Test and Micral Test Strips
Panadda Hatthachote PhD*, Kijja Suwan MSc*, Koonphol Pongmanee MSc**, Wirote Areekul MD***
Affiliation : * Department of Physiology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine ** Office of Research Development, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine *** Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine
Objectives : To identify albuminuria prevalence and examine the association of albuminuria with plasma
glucose, blood pressure and body mass index in rural Thai people aged 35 and older.
Materials and Methods : All volunteer adults aged 35 and older at Ban Nayao, Chachoengsao Province were
recruited in this cross-sectional study. Macroalbuminuria and microalbuminuria were tested in first
morning urine using Combur and Micral Test strips. Fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, weight and
height were determined. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for analysis.
Results : Of the 357 participants, 26.61% had microalbuminuria, 3.08% had macroalbuminuria, and 9.2%,
19%, 7.3% had diabetes, hypertension, and obese, respectively. The prevalence of microalbuminuria
and macroalbuminuria in people with diabetes were 30.30% and 15.15%, respectively. In the obese, the
prevalence was 50% and 3.8% and was 30.88% and 7.35% in the hypertensive group, respectively.
Strong significant associations between plasma glucose (p = 0.013), and body mass index (p = 0.008)
with the progression of albuminuria were observed. According to multiple logistic regression analysis,
diabetes and obesity were independent risk factors for albuminuria statistically significant (p = 0.036 and
p = 0.005, respectively, 95% CI).
Conclusion : The present study showed increased risk of albuminuria in diabetes and in obese people in
a rural area of Thailand. Thus, community-controlled diabetes and weight program should be introduced
to the rural community.
Keywords : Albuminuria, Plasma glucose, Hypertension, Body mass index
