Microalbuminuria, cardiovascular disease and risk factors in a nondiabetic/nonhypertensive population. The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT, 1995-97), Norway.
OBJECTIVE
Microalbuminuria (MA) as an independent marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in nondiabetic/nonhypertensive individuals is under international debate. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between MA and known cardiovascular risk factors/markers and disease in a randomly selected nondiabetic/nonhypertensive sample.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Participants in the population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway (n = 65 258).


METHODS
A total of 2113 individuals (> or =20 years), randomly selected without diabetes and treated hypertension, delivered three morning urine samples for MA analysis.


METHODS
MA expressed as albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), cardiovascular risk factors and disease.


RESULTS
Increasing age, pulse pressure, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and coronary heart disease (CHD) significantly predicted MA in men and increasing pulse pressure, SBP and DBP were associated with MA in women, adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors/markers. After excluding individuals with known CHD and untreated hypertension (SBP > or = 140 mmHg, DBP > or = 90 mmHg) and hence a high total risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), only increasing age was associated with ACR in men and increasing SBP and pulse pressure in women. Smoking, elevated lipid and glucose levels were strongly associated with MA in individuals with a high total risk of CVD than in individuals with a low total risk.


CONCLUSIONS
MA was associated with increasing blood pressure in both genders, age and CHD in men. Other cardiovascular risk factors/markers might be more influential in predicting ACR variation in nondiabetic/nonhypertensive individuals with a high total risk of CVD than in individuals with a low total risk.
HUNT Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Verdal, Norway. solfrid.romundstad@medisin.ntnu.no
S
S
Romundstad
J
J
Holmen
H
H
Hallan
K
K
Kvenild
O
O
Krüger
K
K
Midthjell
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids