Albuminuria is common among older adults, particularly those with diabetes, and is linked to increased hospitalization rates. In a study of 3,110 adults with a mean age of 78 years, 21% had albuminuria at baseline. Over a median follow-up of 9.75 years, hospitalization rates were significantly higher in participants with albuminuria (65.85 per 100 patient-years) compared to those without (37.55 per 100 patient-years). Adjusted analyses showed that albuminuria was associated with a 39% higher risk of all-cause hospitalization and a 56% higher risk of prolonged hospital stays. These associations were consistent regardless of diabetes status.

Albuminuria was also linked to hospitalizations across a range of conditions, including circulatory, endocrine, genitourinary, respiratory, and injury-related illnesses. These findings suggest that albuminuria is a marker of generalized health vulnerability in older adults, highlighting its potential role in identifying individuals at higher risk for various age-related diseases.

Reference: Barzilay JI, Buzkova P, Shlipak MG, Bansal N, Garimella P, Mukamal KJ. Hospitalization Rates in Older Adults With: The Cardiovascular Health Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020;75(12):2426-2433. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glaa020.