The Natural Course of Patients Four Years after Pathological Urinary Sediment Findings at Ningen Dock: The Cost and Benefit of Urine Sediment Examination

Abstract

Objective: Urinary sediment is examined in Ningen Dock. We sought to evaluate the costs and diagnostic value associated with abnormal urinary sediment findings, in addition to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary protein, and occult blood measurement, in Ningen Dock after 4 years.

Methods: In the patients who underwent Ningen Dock in 2015, urinalysis was performed using a fully-automated urinalysis system at the central laboratory of each hospital. Urine sediment was microscopically examined by laboratory technicians. Granular casts, epithelial casts, and tubular epithelium were defined as pathological findings. Seventy-six patients who showed these findings in 2015 and were re-examined in 2019. The eGFR, urinary protein, and occult blood were statistically analyzed.

Results: Pathological urinary sediment findings detected in 2015 spontaneously disappeared after 4 years in 91% of the patients. No significant change was observed in eGFR, urinary protein or occult blood in the patients who continued to have pathological findings after 4 years. At least \157 was spent per sample in supplies and personnel.

Conclusions: Almost the pathological urine sediment was disappeared after four years. The benefit of urine sediment examinations was small for the cost. The eGFR, urine protein and occult blood test are sufficient in the kidney function examinations in Ningen Dock.