Correlation of systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure with albuminuria in patients of hypertension without diabetes

Hypertension and microalbuminuria (MAU) are independent yet interconnected markers of cardiovascular and renal dysfunction. While MAU is an early indicator of renal impairment, its relationship with blood pressure (BP) components, particularly systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP), remains underexplored in non-diabetic hypertensive populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent association between these BP components and MAU, identify which parameter exhibits a stronger correlation, and enhance the understanding of early renal dysfunction in hypertension management. For this analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Safedabad, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, over 12 months, involving 120 hypertensive patients attending outpatient and inpatient departments. Patients with comorbidities like diabetes mellitus, renal failure, or overt proteinuria were excluded. BP was measured in two separate readings using a standard sphygmomanometer, and microalbuminuria was assessed via immunoturbidometric assay. The urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) served as the primary indicator of MAU. SBP and PP demonstrated significant positive correlations with MAU (ρ = 0.25, p = 0.032; ρ = 0.30, p = 0.015, respectively), while diastolic BP (DBP) showed a negative yet non-significant association (ρ = -0.20, p = 0.065). Among anthropometric parameters, body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio exhibited no significant differences between groups. Urine ACR was markedly higher in the MAU group (182.5 ± 156.5 mg/L) compared to the non-MAU group (17.6 ± 7.1 mg/L; p < 0.0001). Lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, and renal function markers like serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were comparable between groups, highlighting BP components as primary predictors of albuminuria. The strong positive correlations between SBP, PP, and MAU highlighted the need for precise BP management in non-diabetic hypertensive patients. Regular monitoring and treatment to optimise SBP and PP levels could mitigate renal damage and reduce cardiovascular risks