Brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity is independently associated with urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in a Chinese community-based cohort

PURPOSE: Arterial stiffness is important in the development of albuminuria. The brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) acts as an indicator of arterial stiffness and may be associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. The urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is a metric used to diagnose albuminuria and has also been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease. Here, we aim to elucidate the relationship between the baPWV and UACR in the Chinese community. METHODS: A community-based cohort of 3669 subjects was selected for the analysis. The BaPWV and UACR were measured from each subject. UACR ≥ 30 mg/g was defined as pathological albuminuria. RESULTS: The mean baPWV was 1536.59 ± 305.89 cm/s, and the median UACR value was 6.11 mg/g (interquartile range 4.17, 10.68). A threshold-effect analysis was conducted, and the results showed that the cut-off value for the baPWV was 1269 cm/s. In subjects with baPWV values lower than 1269 cm/s, the prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria was not significantly associated with the baPWV (odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.57–1.03, P = 0.08). However, in participants with baPWV ≥ 1269 cm/s, the prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria increased with increasing baPWV 100 cm/s (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.22, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that, in this Chinese community-based cohort, elevated baPWV is independently associated with pathological albuminuria with a cut-off value of 1269 cm/s as determined by threshold-effect analysis.