Study of Correlation of Retinopathy and Microalbuminuria in Patient of Essential Hypertension

Background: Hypertension is one of the leading causes of global burden of disease. Essential hypertension produces clinical proteinuria and microalbuminuria and is an early sign of kidney disease. Microalbuminuria has been shown to be a marker for end organ damage and results in retinopathy in the eye. Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between microalbuminuria and hypertensive retinopathy in patients of essential hypertension. Methods:This cross-sectional study was performed in 100 patients with essential hypertension of a tertiary care teaching hospital in eastern India, conducted between July 2020 to June 2021. Urinary albumin excretion was assessed by turbidimetry method and fundus was examined for grading of hypertensive retinopathy Result: Microalbuminuria was found to be present in 36 % patients of whom 65 % were males and 35% were females. Hypertensive retinopathy was observed in 66.7 % (24) patients, out of which 36 % patients had associated microalbuminuria. (p=0.001871) Conclusion: Investigation must be initiated for evidence of early renal disease in hypertensive patients to prevent MA and the resultant end organ damage. Furthermore, MA had a signicant correlation with retinopathy therefore fundus examination should be undertaken to predict the presence of ongoing vascular damage which can prevent atherosclerotic processes in the entire vascular system