Association Between Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Albuminuria As Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction Among General Outpatients at Ruhoko Health Centre IV, Southwestern Uganda

Association Between Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Albuminuria As Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction Among General Outpatients at Ruhoko Health Centre IV, Southwestern Uganda | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Association Between Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Albuminuria As Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction Among General Outpatients at Ruhoko Health Centre IV, Southwestern Uganda Solomon Atayebwa, Vicky Ninsiima, Andrew Okello, Kenneth Akanyijuka, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6933186/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of cardiovascular and renal disease, emphasizing the need for accessible biomarkers for early detection. Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and albuminuria have both been proposed as indicators of endothelial damage. Unlike albuminuria, which can be influenced by urine concentration and collection methods, GGT is routinely measured using standardized assays, making it a potentially more practical tool. This study aimed to assess the association between serum GGT and albuminuria to explore the potential of GGT as a marker for early endothelial dysfunction. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 general outpatients aged ≥ 18 years at Ruhoko Health Centre IV in Ibanda District, Southwestern Uganda. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires and physical assessments. Venous blood was analyzed for serum GGT using a Humastar 100 Chemistry Analyzer. Spot urine samples were tested for albuminuria using the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) via semi-quantitative dipstick strips. Poisson regression was used to assess associations, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results The prevalence of elevated serum GGT (> 55 U/L in males, > 30 U/L in females) was 21.5% (95% CI: 16.32–27.78), while albuminuria (ACR > 30 mg/g) was present in 71.5% of participants (95% CI: 64.81–77.36). Elevated serum GGT was positively associated with albuminuria in both crude (cPR = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.79–1.63; p = 0.498) and adjusted models (aPR = 1.24; 95% CI: 0.84–1.83; p = 0.284), although these associations were not statistically significant. No other demographic or clinical variables showed significant associations after adjustment. Conclusion This study reports a high prevalence of albuminuria and a non-significant yet positive association with elevated GGT among general outpatients. Although the cross-sectional design and semi-quantitative ACR testing limit causal inference, the findings suggest a potential link that warrants further investigation. Larger, longitudinal studies are recommended to validate these findings and assess the clinical utility of GGT as a marker for early endothelial dysfunction. Health sciences/Health care Health sciences/Medical research Health sciences/Nephrology Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) Albuminuria Urinary Albumin-Creatinine-Ratio (ACR) Endothelial dysfunction General outpatients Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 20 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Oct, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 28 Oct, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 23 Oct, 2025 Editor invited by journal 16 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 10 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 10 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6933186","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":538287634,"identity":"c22f6f29-ca9b-4ac3-ba3a-9a22e77b99f2","order_by":0,"name":"Solomon 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Uganda","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Albuminuria, Urinary Albumin-Creatinine-Ratio (ACR), Endothelial dysfunction, General outpatients","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6933186/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6933186/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndothelial dysfunction is an early marker of cardiovascular and renal disease, emphasizing the need for accessible biomarkers for early detection. Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and albuminuria have both been proposed as indicators of endothelial damage. Unlike albuminuria, which can be influenced by urine concentration and collection methods, GGT is routinely measured using standardized assays, making it a potentially more practical tool. This study aimed to assess the association between serum GGT and albuminuria to explore the potential of GGT as a marker for early endothelial dysfunction.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 general outpatients aged\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;18 years at Ruhoko Health Centre IV in Ibanda District, Southwestern Uganda. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires and physical assessments. Venous blood was analyzed for serum GGT using a Humastar 100 Chemistry Analyzer. Spot urine samples were tested for albuminuria using the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) via semi-quantitative dipstick strips. Poisson regression was used to assess associations, with statistical significance set at \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe prevalence of elevated serum GGT (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;55 U/L in males, \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;30 U/L in females) was 21.5% (95% CI: 16.32\u0026ndash;27.78), while albuminuria (ACR\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;30 mg/g) was present in 71.5% of participants (95% CI: 64.81\u0026ndash;77.36). Elevated serum GGT was positively associated with albuminuria in both crude (cPR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.13; 95% CI: 0.79\u0026ndash;1.63; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.498) and adjusted models (aPR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.24; 95% CI: 0.84\u0026ndash;1.83; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.284), although these associations were not statistically significant. No other demographic or clinical variables showed significant associations after adjustment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study reports a high prevalence of albuminuria and a non-significant yet positive association with elevated GGT among general outpatients. Although the cross-sectional design and semi-quantitative ACR testing limit causal inference, the findings suggest a potential link that warrants further investigation. Larger, longitudinal studies are recommended to validate these findings and assess the clinical utility of GGT as a marker for early endothelial dysfunction.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Association Between Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Albuminuria As Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction Among General Outpatients at Ruhoko Health Centre IV, Southwestern Uganda","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-07 18:22:03","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6933186/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-20T18:59:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"230219976301024686663599142680304622836","date":"2026-01-08T12:36:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"106817266552728909283838202240545371291","date":"2025-10-30T18:23:32+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-10-28T17:52:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-10-23T05:41:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-16T08:30:39+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-07-10T21:20:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-07-10T21:17:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"8e4e4a73-edba-4487-9dda-8e926a070eae","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 7th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":57252927,"name":"Health sciences/Health care"},{"id":57252928,"name":"Health sciences/Medical research"},{"id":57252929,"name":"Health sciences/Nephrology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-07T18:22:03+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-07 18:22:03","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6933186","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6933186","identity":"rs-6933186","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}