Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the pathological significance of a trace protein reading in urinalysis by dipsticks.
Methods: The rate of abnormal findings in renal and cardiovascular functions was cross-sectionally compared at each year and longitudinally compared at 6-year intervals between groups divided by the degree of urinary protein reading in 222,255 specimens examined for 7 years from 2005 to 2011 at The Niigata Health Care Association. Serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, electrocardiographic findings, and serum uric acid level were examined.
Results: The cross-sectional and longitudinal examinations revealed that the rate of abnormal findings for the examined items was higher in the trace proteinuria positive (±) group than in the negative (-) group.
Conclusion: The rates of abnormal findings for renal and cardiovascular functions and also uric acid levels were higher in the trace proteinuria positive group than in the negative group. Therefore, a trace protein reading in urinalysis by dipsticks was concluded to have pathological significance.
