The Association between Baseline and 3-Month Albuminuria and 1-Year Prognosis of Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The association between the changes in albuminuria levels and the clinical prognosis of stroke is unknown. The present study aimed to explore the relationships between changes in albuminuria and the risk of adverse stroke outcomes. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack from the Third China National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III) who had the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) detected at baseline and 3-month were recruited. They were classified into 4 groups according to baseline and 3-month ACR and followed up for 1 year. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 5,311 patients were finally included in the study. There were 3,738 (70.4%), 483 (9.1%), 451 (8.5%), and 639 (12.0%) patients with no albuminuria, baseline albuminuria, 3-month albuminuria, and persistent albuminuria, respectively. After adjustment for confounding variables, persistent albuminuria was independently associated with all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 2.23; 95% CI, 1.17–4.25; <i>p</i> = 0.02), stroke recurrence (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.02–2.36; <i>p</i> = 0.04), and poor functional outcome (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.66–2.96; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). Baseline albuminuria was independently associated with poor functional outcome (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.19–2.28; <i>p</i> = 0.003), while 3-month albuminuria was independently associated with stroke recurrence (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.06–2.65; <i>p</i> = 0.03). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Changes in albuminuria can predict adverse 1-year outcomes in Chinese ischemic stroke patients. In particular, persistent albuminuria was independently associated with 1-year all-cause death, stroke recurrence, and poor functional outcome.