title: Identifying patients at risk for microalbuminuria via interaction of the components of the metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional analytic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate correlates of risk for having microalbuminuria in individuals with one or more cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 1919 individuals who attended general practice settings, were aged 55 to 75 yr, and did not have a history of cardiovascular events or diabetes but had one or more cardiovascular risk factors. A tree-based regression technique and multivariate analysis were used to identify distinct, homogeneous subgroups of patients with different likelihood of having microalbuminuria; interaction between correlates of microalbuminuria and risk for microalbuminuria was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 5.9%. Patients who did not have hypertension and had postload glycemia < 140 mg/dl showed the lowest prevalence of microalbuminuria (1.9%) and represented the reference class. The likelihood of microalbuminuria was seven times higher in men with hypertension and homeostatic model assessment levels in the upper tertile and four times higher in women with the same characteristics. Individuals with hypertension and lower homeostatic model assessment levels and normotensive individuals with postload glycemia > or = 140 mg/dl had a more than three-fold increased likelihood of having microalbuminuria. Treatment with statins was associated with a 54% reduction in the likelihood of having microalbuminuria, whereas levels of triglycerides > 150 mg/dl and fibrinogen levels in the upper tertile were associated with a significantly higher risk for microalbuminuria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The likelihood of having microalbuminuria in a population-based study of elderly individuals is strongly related to the interaction between the components of the metabolic syndrome, particularly hypertension, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose tolerance.
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Via Nazionale, 66030 S. Maria Imbaro (CH), Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Franciosi
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Pellegrini
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Sacco
authors: Giorgia
authors: G
authors: De Berardis
authors: Maria C E
authors: MC
authors: Rossi
authors: Giovanni F M
authors: GF
authors: Strippoli
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Belfiglio
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Tognoni
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Valentini
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Nicolucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors