Prevalence of Proteinuria and Hematuria in a Rural Population in the Southwest of Iran

Abstract

Acute and chronic kidney diseases are common and are associated with the risk of kidney failure. Early detection of these disorders prevents their progression to kidney damage in later stages. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of proteinuria and hematuria in a rural population in Yasuj, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 676 people (350 females and 326 males) participated. People with positive dipstick test results entered the second screening and the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) was measured. People with UPCR ≥150 mg/g were evaluated for demographic and biochemical indicators. In the initial screening, 72 subjects (10.6%) tested positive by the dipstick test with trace proteinuria or higher. The UPCR results showed that this ratio was above 150 mg/g in 42 patients (6.2%), which was approximately equivalent to more than 150 mg of protein excreted per day. There was no significant relationship between the prevalence of proteinuria and the demographic and biochemical markers. Briefly, it seems that the prevalence of proteinuria found by the dipstick test was similar to that in other parts of the world. However, according to the UPCR index, the percentage of proteinuria was significantly higher than in other studies. Because of the unknown mechanism of proteinuria, more studies based on genetic tests and kidney biopsies are needed to determine the causes of proteinuria.