Microalbuminuria is independently associated with ischaemic electrocardiographic abnormalities in a large non-diabetic population. The PREVEND (Prevention of REnal and Vascular ENdstage Disease) study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of microalbuminuria as an indicator of increased cardiovascular risk in a non-diabetic population.


RESULTS
7579 non-diabetic subjects were studied with ages ranging from 28 to 75 years selected from a population based cohort. Using computerized Minnesota coding, ischaemic electrocardiographic abnormalities were divided into three categories: infarct patterns, major ischaemia, and minor ischaemia. Urinary albumin excretion was measured as the mean of two 24-h urine collections. Cardiovascular risk indicators were defined as an age above 60 years, male sex, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, obesity and a positive cardiovascular family history. Microalbuminuria was associated with age, sex, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, serum glucose, body mass index and all three categories of electrocardiographic abnormalities. In a multivariate model, adjusted for established cardiovascular risk indicators, microalbuminuria was independently associated with infarct patterns (OR [95% CI] 1.61 [1.12-2.32]), major ischaemia (OR 1.43 [1.08-1.91]) and minor ischaemia (OR 1.32 [1.03-1.68]).


CONCLUSIONS
The independent association between microalbuminuria and ischaemic electrocardiographic abnormalities suggests that microalbuminuria has additional value to conventional risk indicators in predicting cardiovascular disease in non-diabetics. Assessment of microalbuminuria could be an instrument to identify those at an increased risk for coronary vascular disease in an early stage.
Diercks
G F
GF
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van Boven
A J
AJ
Hillege
H L
HL
Janssen
W M
WM
Kors
J A
JA
de Jong
P E
PE
Grobbee
D E
DE
Crijns
H J
HJ
van Gilst
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index