# Correlation of Human Serum Albumin and Urinary Microalbumin Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease at a Tertiary Care Hospital

## TL;DR

This study finds a strong negative link between blood albumin levels and urine albumin in cardiovascular disease patients, suggesting combined use could improve risk assessment.

## Contribution

Identifies serum and urinary albumin as independent correlates of cardiovascular disease severity, proposing a novel dual-biomarker approach.

## Key findings

- Serum albumin negatively correlates with urinary albumin (r=−0.612, p<0.001) in CVD patients.
- 42% of patients had hypoalbuminemia, and 38% had severely increased urinary albumin.
- The correlation is stronger in patients with advanced CVD stages.

## Abstract

Aim

This research aims to understand the association between serum albumin and urinary albumin levels among individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) at a tertiary healthcare facility. Furthermore, it evaluated the joint capability of these indicators to correlate with CVD severity.

Methods

This observational cross-sectional research involved 100 patients diagnosed with CVDs, recruited during a three-month timeframe at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna. Blood specimens were collected to measure serum total protein, its components, and albumin. Urine samples were tested for microalbumin and creatinine, enabling the computation of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Associations among these factors were explored through summary statistics, correlation tests, and regression techniques.

Results

The mean serum albumin concentration was 3.30±0.62 g/dL, with 42% (n=42) of the group exhibiting hypoalbuminemia. The average urinary albumin was 273.42±302.65 mg/L. Based on albumin-to-creatinine ratio, 43% (n=43) had normal albuminuria (<30 mg/g), 19% (n=19) had moderately increased albuminuria (30-300 mg/g), and 38% (n=38) had severely increased albuminuria (>300 mg/g). A robust and significant negative correlation existed between serum albumin and urinary albumin (r=−0.612, p<0.001); this link was more pronounced in those with advanced CVD stages. Follow-up multivariate evaluation confirmed that both markers serve as independent correlates of disease severity.

Conclusion

The opposing association between serum albumin and urinary albumin indicates a possible integrated biomarker strategy for assessing cardiovascular risk. Decreased serum albumin and increased urinary albumin offer supplementary details of cardiovascular mechanisms, indicating systemic inflammation and vascular endothelial impairment. This paired biomarker method could enhance risk classification and timely management in CVD care.