The Relationship Between High Body Mass Index and Microalbuminuria: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Obesity is a major health concern that contributes to comorbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and it can accelerate the progression of end stage renal disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio with microalbuminuria, a marker of renal microvascular damage.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on consecutive normotensive, non-diabetic adults. Participants were divided into two groups: a control group of 50 adults with a BMI of 18–24.9 kg/m² and an overweight/obese group of 100 adults with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Microalbuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) exceeding 30 mg/g of creatinine.Results: Microalbuminuria prevalence was significantly linked to higher waist-to-hip ratio, particularly in males (p < 0.0001) and to a lesser extent in females (p = 0.0224). BMI showed significant correlations with urinary albumin (p = 0.0084) and creatinine (p < 0.0001), and was associated with elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Individuals with higher body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio are more likely to exhibit elevated urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, indicating a greater risk of renal microvascular dysfunction.