Associations between neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and albuminuria: A cross-sectional study

Background and objectiveAlbuminuria is a critical early warning marker for the development of chronic kidney disease. The neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) has been identified as a novel biomarker for the assessment of both inflammatory status and lipid metabolism. The present study was designed to explore the association between NHR and albuminuria.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2017 and 2020. In total, 7772 eligible adult participants were included. Multivariate logistic regression models, threshold effect analysis, and sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to analyze the association between NHR and albuminuria.ResultsWe found a notable positive association between the NHR and the likelihood of albuminuria. In fully adjusted models, each unit rise in the NHR was associated with a 1.13-fold higher likelihood of albuminuria (1.13 (1.09-1.18)). When classified according to quartiles, participants in the highest NHR quartile had a markedly elevated likelihood of albuminuria compared with those in the lowest quartile (2.01 (1.59-2.53)). The smooth curve analysis suggested a nonlinear relationship, with a threshold at 4.58. In subgroup analyses, the positive association between NHR and albuminuria differed significantly across race categories (interaction test <i>p</i> = 0.0166).ConclusionAn increased level of NHR was significantly associated with an elevated odds ratio for the occurrence of albuminuria in our study. NHR may be an efficacious biomarker for the assessment of albuminuria risk, and future studies should further investigate its predictive value.