Predictors for the development of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in patients with type 1 diabetes: inception cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate baseline predictors for the development of persistent microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria prospectively in patients with type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of an inception cohort.


METHODS
Outpatient diabetic clinic in a tertiary referral centre, Gentofte, Denmark.


METHODS
286 patients (216 adults) newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes consecutively admitted to the clinic between 1 September 1979 and 31 August 1984.


METHODS
Persistent microalbuminuria and persistent macroalbuminuria.


RESULTS
During the median follow up of 18.0 years (range 1.0-21.5 years), total of 4706 patient years of follow up, 79 of 277 (29%) patients developed persistent microalbuminuria. 27 of 79 progressed further to persistent macroalbuminuria. The cumulative incidence of persistent microalbuminuria and persistent macroalbuminuria was 33.6% (95% confidence interval 27.2% to 40.0%) and 14.6% (8.9% to 20.3%), respectively. Significant predictors for the development of persistent microalbuminuria were a 10-fold increase in urinary albumin excretion rate (relative risk 3.78, 1.57 to 9.13), being male (2.41, 1.43 to 4.06), a 10 mm Hg increase in mean arterial blood pressure (1.38, 1.20 to 1.57), a 1% increase in haemoglobin A1c (1.18, 1.04 to 1.32), and a 1 cm increase in height (0.96, 0.95 to 0.98). 28 patients with microalbuminuria (35%) regressed to normoalbuminuria either transiently (n = 15) or permanently (n = 13).


CONCLUSIONS
Around one third of patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes develop persistent microalbuminuria within the first 20 years of diabetes. Several potentially modifiable risk factors predict the development of persistent microalbuminaria and persistent macroalbuminuria.
Hovind
Peter
P
Steno Diabetes Center, Niels Steensens Vej 2, DK-2820 Gentofte, Denmark. phovind@dadlnet.dk
Tarnow
Lise
L
Rossing
Peter
P
Jensen
Berit Ruud
BR
Graae
Malene
M
Torp
Inge
I
Binder
Christian
C
Parving
Hans-Henrik
HH
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors