Serum Albumin is Positively Correlated with Serum Potassium and Inversely Associated with Incident Hypertension in a Health Screening Population

Abstract

Background: Albumin is reported to be a potent inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and its inhibiting potency is tissue-dependent, while a decrease in serum albumin is reported to be a predictor of incident hypertension.

Methods: This was a retrospective 5-year follow-up study in a health screening population including 2,045 subjects. The mean (SD) serum potassium and incidence of hypertension in the first (lowest), second, third and fourth (highest) quartiles of serum albumin (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4) were calculated. The hazard ratios (HRs) of hypertension for each 1 SD increase in serum albumin and for Q1, Q2 and Q3 compared with Q4 were calculated and adjusted for baseline blood pressure and other confounders.

Results: During 5 years of follow-up (mean: 3.8 years), 400 subjects developed hypertension (3.9%/year). The incidence of hypertension was 4.7%/year, 3.8%/year, 3.8%/year and 3.4%/year, respectively (p for trend<0.001), in Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4. The mean (SD) serum potassium levels for Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 were 4.26 (0.28) mEq/L, 4.33 (0.32) mEq/L (p=0.004), 4.34 (0.32) mEq/L (p=0.003) and 4.39 (0.36) mEq/L (p<0.001), respectively (p: compared with Q1). The adjusted HRs of hypertension for each 1 SD increase in serum albumin and for Q1, Q2 and Q3 compared with Q4 were 0.79 (p<0.001), 1.73 (p=0.003), 1.45 (p=0.017) and 1.18 (p=0.350), respectively.

Conclusions: Serum albumin is positively correlated with serum potassium and inversely associated with incident hypertension.