title: Atrial fibrillation and heart rate independently correlate to microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between microalbuminuria (MAU) and atrial fibrillation (AF) and to further evaluate whether the heart rate dependency of MAU in patients without AF is maintained in patients with a history of AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The International Survey Evaluating Microalbuminuria Routinely by Cardiologists in patients with Hypertension (I-SEARCH) included 18,900 patients without and 1705 patients with a history of AF suffering from hypertension and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in 26 countries worldwide from September 2005 to March 2006. Heart rate, blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, and an estimated glomerular filtration rate were determined among other parameters. The prevalence of MAU was higher at higher heart rate in both patients with and without a history of AF. Prevalence of MAU was about 10% higher in patients with a history of AF (P < 0.001). Male gender, the presence of diabetes mellitus, a higher heart rate, and a higher diastolic blood pressure were independently associated with increased odds for MAU in patients without and with a history of AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of MAU in hypertensive patients with cardiovascular risk factors is related to heart rate and significantly higher in patients with a history of AF.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin III (Kardiologie, Angiologie, Internistische Intensivmedizin), Universität des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Strasse, 66424 Homburg/Saar, Germany. boehm@uks.eu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thoenes
authors.forename: Hans-Ruprecht
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Neuberger
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gräber
authors.forename: Jan-Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reil
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramlage
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors