title: Determination of microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients and in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The normal 24-hour albumin excretion rate is of 20 mg. A persistent rate of 30 to 300 mg/day is called microalbuminuria and is related to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  1) To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in a group of hypertensive patients and in a group of patients with coronary artery disease; 2) To determine the relationship between the presence of microalbuminuria and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of microalbuminuria in a group of hypertensive patients (73 individuals) and in a group of patients with coronary artery disease (39 individuals) was determined and compared with a control group (43 individuals). Microalbuminuria was defined as an albumin/creatinine ratio higher than 30 and lower than 300 in a spot morning urine sample. The chi-square test and the Fishers exact test were used in the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microalbuminuria was present in 9.5% of the hypertensive individuals and in 33% of the patients with coronary artery disease, and was absent in individuals of the control group. When the occurrence of microalbuminuria was analyzed according to the different clinical parameters, regardless of the group involved, a statistically significant correlation was found with age, diabetes and dyslipidemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1) The prevalence of microalbuminuria in hypertensive individuals is high, and is even higher in patients with coronary artery disease; 2) There is a correlation of the presence of microalbuminuria with age, diabetes and dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Fortaleza, CE - Brasil. rpsilva@cardiol.br
authors.forename: Ricardo Pereira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Karinne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cisne
authors.forename: Jerusa Mara de
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubrusly
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto Martins
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Sobrinho
authors.forename: Pedro José Negreiros de
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000652:urine; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000652:urine; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine