Evaluation of cystatin C and microalbuminuria as predictive markers for hypertension-related renal complications

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation between blood pressure and the levels of two renal function markers, cystatin C and microalbuminuria, with the goal of evaluating their correlation across varying blood pressure categories. Methods A cohort of 3,000 participants, comprising 1,500 individuals with a diagnosis of hypertension and 1,500 normotensive controls, was analyzed. Data on blood pressure, serum cystatin C, microalbuminuria, and other relevant clinical parameters were collected at admission. Correlations between these markers and blood pressure levels were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Results Levels of cystatin C and microalbuminuria were significantly higher in individuals with hypertension compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, both biomarkers demonstrated a positive correlation with blood pressure ( r = 0.140, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the combined use of cystatin C and microalbuminuria provided a superior predictive value for blood pressure levels ( P < 0.001). The combined predictive accuracy (R² = 0.114. R² = 0.112 after rectifying age, body mass index, and blood lipid levels) exceeded that of cystatin C (R² = 0.100) or microalbuminuria (R² = 0.113) when analyzed individually. Conclusion The biomarkers cystatin C and microalbuminuria are closely correlated with blood pressure levels. Their combined assessment offers an enhanced diagnostic approach for the early detection of renal complications in individuals with hypertension.