Frequency and determinants of microalbuminuria in mild hypertension: a primary-care-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the frequency of microalbuminuria and its relationship with several risk factors and left ventricular mass in a population of mildly hypertensive subjects attended in a primary-care setting.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Eight primary-care centres.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty-three non-diabetic patients recently diagnosed with mild hypertension were included in the study. None of them had clinical evidence of target-organ damage or had received prior antihypertensive treatment.


METHODS
Subjects included in the study underwent clinical interview, measurement of blood pressure (BP) on three visits, blood analysis, measurement of albumin by immunonephelometry in three overnight urine collections, 24 h BP monitoring and M-mode and Doppler echocardiography.


METHODS
Tobacco habit, clinic BP, body mass index, serum lipids and uric acid, glycaemia, urinary albumin excretion (UAE), ambulatory BP and left ventricular mass index.


RESULTS
The frequency of microalbuminuria was 7.2%. Microalbuminuric patients were more likely to be men and to be characterized by higher ambulatory BP, body mass index and uric acid levels. Regression analysis demonstrated that male sex and 24 h systolic BP were determinants of UAE. Patients with white-coat hypertension showed lower UAE than did subjects with sustained hypertension. Although a certain relationship between UAE and left ventricular mass index was found, these variables were not significantly correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
A low proportion of mildly hypertensive patients attended in a primary care setting are microalbuminuric. In this population, UAE is an expression of BP values over 24 h and correlates with several risk factors.
Martínez
M A
MA
Hospital and Primary Care Research Unit, Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. anmar@nacom.es
Moreno
A
A
Aguirre de Cárcer
A
A
Cabrera
R
R
Rocha
R
R
Torre
A
A
Nevado
A
A
Ramos
T
T
Neri
J
J
Antón
G
G
Miranda
I
I
Fernández
P
P
Rodríguez
E
E
Miquel
A
A
Martínez
J L
JL
Rodríguez
M
M
Eisman
C
C
Puig
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose