Albuminuria Linked With COPD

Albuminuria, a common biomarker of microvascular damage in kidney disease, is associated with greater lung function decline, incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and incident COPD-related events, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Noting that previous studies suggested an increase in albuminuria—urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio—in patients with COPD, researchers conducted the current study to further investigate the association. The study included data for 31,877 participants without prevalent clinical lung disease from six US population-based cohorts.

Among 10,961 participants with preserved lung function, the mean age at albuminuria measurement was 60. Median albuminuria was 5.6 mg/g, and mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) decline was 31.5 mL/year.

Over a median 6 years, researchers followed participants for changes in lung function. For each standard deviation increase in ln-albuminuria, there was 2.81% greater FEV₁ decline, 11.02% greater FEV₁/forced vital capacity (FVC) decline, and 15% increased hazard of incident spirometry-defined moderate-to-severe COPD, according to the study.

Among 14,213 participants followed for events, each standard deviation ln-albuminuria increased hazards of incident COPD-related hospitalization and mortality by 26%, researchers reported.

Associations persisted in patients despite current smoking, diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease status.

—Jolynn Tumolo

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