The CARI Guidelines – Caring for Australians with Renal Impairment Urine Protein as Diagnostic Test (October 2004) 2. Performance characteristics of tests used in the initial evaluation of patients at risk of renal disease

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) develops in about 1500 people each year in Australia, of whom about 1000 are over 50 years of age (a risk of about 200 per million per year). Diabetes, hypertension, impaired renal function and proteinuria are likely independent risk factors for the development of ESRD. About 5% of the general population have proteinuria and these individuals are approximately 15 times more likely to develop ESRD than those without proteinuria. Because of the absence of well done cohort studies, estimating an individual’s risk of developing ESRD using values for proteinuria, blood pressure, renal function and diabetes is not possible. The aim of this guideline is to review the different tests available for assessing proteinuria and albuminuria.