Background  

The urine dipstick test that regards > 1+ proteinuria as positive is unsuitable for microalbuminuria screening owing to its low sensitivity in the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine whether trace proteinuria could be an indicator of microalbuminuria.

Methods  

The subjects were 2321 participants in a community-based health check-up in Takahata, Japan. Dipstick tests for proteinuria and the urine albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR) measurement were performed with single-spot urine specimens collected early in the morning. The results of the dipstick tests were recorded as (−), trace, (1+), (2+), and (3+). Micro- and macroalbuminuria were defined as UACR 30–300 mg/g and > 300 mg/g, respectively.

Results  

Overall, the prevalence and median UACR levels of urine protein (−), trace, (1+), (2+), and (3+) were 92.0% (8.8 mg/g), 3.5% (43 mg/g), 2.6% (81 mg/g), 1.4% (315 mg/g), and 0.5% (1073 mg/g), respectively. Within the trace proteinuria category, the prevalence of microalbuminuria in all subjects, men, subjects ≥60 years, diabetic subjects, and hypertensive subjects was 59.3%, 73.8%, 71.2%, 88.9%, and 68.0%, respectively. By regarding trace proteinuria as positive, the sensitivity of the urine protein dipstick test for micro- and macroalbuminuria was improved (from 23.3% to 37.1%), while its specificity was not significantly changed (from 98.9% to 97.3%).

Conclusion  

Trace proteinuria could be a useful indicator of microalbuminuria in the general population, and especially in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease.