title: Association between albuminuria, atherosclerotic plaques, elevated pulse wave velocity, age, risk category and prognosis in apparently healthy individuals.
abstract: METHODS
  Two thousand and fifty-nine healthy individuals aged 41, 51, 61 and 71 years examined in 1993, were divided in age, SCORE and Framingham risk score (FRS) groups. Subclinical vascular damage (SVD) was defined as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) at least 12 m/s, carotid atherosclerotic plaques or albuminuria defined as urine albumin/creatinine ratio at least 90th percentile of 0.73/1.06 mg/mmol men/women. In 2006, the composite endpoint (CEP) of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke and hospitalization for ischemic heart disease was recorded (n = 229).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With increasing age, SCORE or FRS risk group, prevalence of cfPWV at least 12 m/s (5.2, 14.5, 35.3, 53.5% or 4.4, 15.6, 50.9, 66.1% or 4.0, 9.5, 32.1, 56.1%), atherosclerotic plaque (4.0, 19.0, 35.3, 53.5% or 3.5, 16.8, 43.7, 55.9%, or 6.6, 7.6, 9.8, 20.0%) and albuminuria (7.9, 8.7, 11.4, 20.6% or 7.9, 8.2, 16.6, 19.5% or 6.6, 7.6, 9.8, 20.0%) increased, all P < 0.001.CEP was associated with albuminuria in individuals aged 61 or 71 years, with moderate or very high SCORE or intermediate or high FRS (all P < 0.05), with atherosclerotic plaques in individuals aged 41, 51 or 61 years, with moderate SCORE or with high-intermediate or high FRS (all P < 0.01), and with cfPWV at least 12 m/s in individuals aged 51 years (P < 0.001) or high FRS (P < 0.05). Presence of at least one SVD was significantly associated with an increased risk in individuals aged 51 [hazard ratio 2.7 (1.6-4.8)] and 61 years [hazard ratio 2.7 (1.5-4.7)], moderate [hazard ratio 2.4 (1.6-3.7)] or high SCORE risk group [hazard ratio 2.3 (1.2-4.7)] and low-intermediate [hazard ratio 3.3 (1.5-7.0)], high-intermediate [hazard ratio 2.3 (1.5-3.5)] and high FRS risk group [hazard ratio 2.0 (1.4-3.0)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SVD and especially atherosclerotic plaques or urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) at least 0.73/1.06 mg/mmol (men/women) added prognostic information in individuals aged 51 or 61 years or with moderate or intermediate risk.
authors.affiliation: aCardiovascular and Metabolic Preventive Clinic, Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital bCardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Glostrup University Hospital cDepartment of Cardiology, Herlev University Hospital dSteno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark eDepartment of Diagnostic Imaging, Gentofte University Hospital fResearch Centre for Prevention and Health gDepartment of Cardiology, Glostrup University Hospital hDepartment of Internal Medicine, Holbæk Hospital iHypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sara V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Marie K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Blicher
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blyme
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sehestedt
authors.forename: Tine W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rassmusen
authors.forename: Julie K K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vishram
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ibsen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torp-Pedersen
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Olsen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors