Prevalence and factors associated with microalbuminuria: A structured narrative literature review

Background: Microalbuminuria, defined as urinary albumin excretion of 30-300 mg/day, is an early marker of renal injury and an established predictor of cardiovascular disease. Its reported prevalence varies widely across populations, and determinants differ by clinical and demographic context. Objectives: To provide a broad synthesis of the available literature rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis, formal risk-of-bias assessment, quality scoring, and quantitative meta-analysis were not performed. Materials and methods: A structured narrative literature review was conducted, synthesizing data from 21 observational studies across diverse geographic regions and adult populations. Studies reporting the prevalence of microalbuminuria and/or associated factors using recognized diagnostic criteria were included. Results: The prevalence of microalbuminuria ranged from 2.8% in normotensive, normoglycemic adults to 61% in diabetic populations. Higher prevalence was frequently associated with diabetes, hypertension, poor glycemic control, older age, obesity, and other cardiometabolic risk factors, although associations varied across populations. Substantial geographic variation was observed, reflecting differences in population characteristics and cardiometabolic risk profiles. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is common in high-risk cardiometabolic populations and is consistently associated with multiple modifiable risk factors. These findings are consistent with current clinical guidelines supporting screening in high-risk individuals and highlight the importance of early risk assessment and evidence-based management to reduce renal and cardiovascular complications.