[Microalbuminuria-related cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients and hypertensive (non diabetic) population].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The MICREX Study has shown an high prevalence of microalbuminuria in Extremadura among diabetic patients and hypertensive population. It has been retrospectively evaluated the cardiovascular risk associated to microalbuminuria and/or diabetes mellitus.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A total of 902 patients older than 18 years were studied (mean age, 68.7 [11.0] years; 370 men and 532 women; 469 were diabetics and 433 non diabetic hypertensives). Microalbuminuria was measured in every patient using albumin/creatinin reactive stick in fasting first morning urine. Anthropometric measures and previous cardiovascular diseases were recorded.

RESULTS

Odds ratio of cardiovascular disease for all patients with microalbuminuria was 1.91 (confidence interval [CI] 95%, 1.31-2.78; p = 0.001), for diabetic group it was 1.87 (CI 95%, 1.15-3.04; p = 0.01) and for non diabetic hypertensives 1.78 (CI 95%, 0.98-3.30; p = 0.06). The risk associated to all patients with diabetes mellitus (versus non diabetic hypertensives) showed an odds ratio = 1.59 (CI 95%, 1.19-2.14; p = 0.02). Hypertension in diabetic subjects rises odds ratio up to 2.13 (CI 95%, 1.30-3.48; p = 0.002). When hypertensives diabetics were compared to non diabetic hypertensives odds ratio was 1.88 (CI 95%, 1.37-2.57; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a retrospective view microalbuminuria and diabetes mellitus were positively related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Microalbuminuria and/or hypertension in diabetic patients were also associated to higher cardiovascular risk.