What’s worrying is not just the existence of proteinuria, but also its prevalence, especially in people with risk factors. In people with high blood pressure, up to one in three may experience some protein loss in the urine. In people with diabetes, between 30% and 40% will develop kidney damage over the course of their lives.
Furthermore, in people with obesity, metabolic disorders, or over 50 years of age, the prevalence increases silently.
The main problem: it doesn’t hurt and gives no warning.
Initial kidney damage doesn’t cause pain or obvious symptoms. This is why many people only discover it when the disease is already advanced. Proteinuria is just the tip of the iceberg: the real damage may progress without the patient realizing it.
This often happens because these signs are not always actively looked for during routine medical check-ups and because the body does not send a clear alarm in the early stages.
Who should be especially careful?
Some people shouldn’t wait until they notice foam in their urine to take action. The risk is higher if:
Having high blood pressure
Having diabetes
