Protein in urine could be a predictor of heart disease

Scientists at the George Institute for International Health say urine tests should be incorporated into analysing heart disease risk.

In a review and meta-analysis of 26 previously published studies, the scientists have found a significant link between the presence of proteins in the urine and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

They say the relationship between indicators of kidney dysfunction and coronary heart disease is clear and they suggest that kidney disease markers should be incorporated into the assessment of an individual’s cardiovascular risk.

The presence of the proteins 'proteinuria' and 'albuminuria' in the urine that may be a signal of damage or disease of the kidneys and one in 20 adults have such markers.

The researchers say although there has been a suspected link with coronary heart disease, it was not clearly defined and the results of some studies are inconsistent.

They say their research shows a strong and continuous association between proteinuria and subsequent risk of coronary heart disease which should be incorporated into individual cardiovascular risk assessments.

Kidney disease affects one in six adults to some degree and an early sign of kidney dysfunction is high amounts of a protein called albumin or of total proteins in the urine (albuminuria and proteinuria, respectively).

The George researchers' systematic review involved almost 170,000 individuals who had participated in these studies - there were over 7,000 fatal and non-fatal heart attacks and other coronary events.

The research team found that proteinuria and albuminuria increased the CHD risk by up to 50% which they say suggests that there is a strong, possibly dose-dependent association between proteinuria and the risk of CHD and that this association is independent of other known CHD risk factors, including diabetes.

The George Institute for International Health is an independent, non-profit institution which undertakes high quality research, applicable to health policy and practice and aims to deliver the greatest health improvements where they are most urgently needed, such as in the low and middle-income countries of Asia and in Indigenous populations of Australia.

The research is published in PLoS Medicine.