Microalbuminuria and risk of venous thromboembolism.
BACKGROUND
Microalbuminuria (albuminuria 30-300 mg per 24-hour urine collection) is a well-known risk marker for arterial thromboembolism. It is assumed that microalbuminuria reflects generalized endothelial dysfunction. Hence, microalbuminuria may also predispose for venous thromboembolism (VTE).


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether microalbuminuria is associated with VTE.


METHODS
Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease (PREVEND) study, an ongoing community-based prospective cohort study initiated in 1997. All inhabitants of Groningen, The Netherlands, aged 28 through 75 years (n = 85,421) were sent a postal questionnaire and a vial to collect a first morning urine sample for measurement of urinary albumin concentration. Of those who responded (40,856), a cohort (8592 participants) including more participants with higher levels of urinary albumin concentration completed screening at an outpatient clinic. Screening data were collected on urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and risk factors for cardiovascular and renal disease.


METHODS
Symptomatic and objectively verified VTE (ie, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or both) between study initiation and June 1, 2007.


RESULTS
Of 8574 evaluable participants (mean [SD] age, 49 [13] years; 50% men), 129 experienced VTE during a mean (SD) follow-up period of 8.6 (1.8) years, corresponding to overall annual incidence of 0.14% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11%-0.19%). Annual incidences were 0.12%, 0.20%, 0.40%, and 0.56% in participants with UAE of less than 15 (n = 6013), 15-29 (n = 1283), 30-300 (n = 1144), and greater than 300 (n = 134) mg per 24-hour urine collection, respectively (P for trend <.001). When adjusted for age, cancer, use of oral contraceptives, and atherosclerosis risk factors, hazard ratios associated with UAE levels of 15-29, 30-300, and greater than 300 mg/24 h were 1.40 (95% CI, 0.86-2.35), 2.20 (95% CI, 1.44-3.36), and 2.82 (95% CI, 1.21-6.61), respectively, compared with participants with UAE of less than 15 mg/24 h (global P = .001). Adjusted hazard ratio for microalbuminuria vs normoalbuminuria (UAE <30 mg/24 h) was 2.00 (95% CI, 1.34-2.98; P < .001). Microalbuminuria-related number needed to harm was 388 per year.


CONCLUSIONS
Microalbuminuria is independently associated with an increased risk for VTE.
Division of Hemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. b.k.mahmoodi@int.umcg.nl
Bakhtawar K
BK
Mahmoodi
Ron T
RT
Gansevoort
Nic J G M
NJ
Veeger
Abigail G
AG
Matthews
Gerjan
G
Navis
Hans L
HL
Hillege
Jan
J
van der Meer
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*