Prevalence and risk factors for micro- and macroalbuminuria in an Italian population-based cohort of NIDDM subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in NIDDM and their relationship with some known and putative risk factors.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Out of a population-based cohort of 1,967 NIDDM subjects, 1,574 were investigated (80%). Albumin excretion rate (AER) was evaluated on an overnight urine collection, and plasma and urine determinations were centralized.

RESULTS

The prevalences of microalbuminuria (AER 20-200 micrograms/min), macroalbuminuria (AER > 200 micrograms/min), and hypertension were 32.1% (95% CI 29.8-34.4), 17.6% (15.7-19.5), and 67% (64.6-69.3), respectively. Apart from prevalence of hypertension, which after adjustment for age, BMI, and duration of diabetes was 2.3 times higher in women, rates were higher in men (odds ratio [OR] 1.31, 95% CI 1.04-1.66 for microalbuminuria and OR 1.63, 1.22-2.17 for macroalbuminuria). In comparison with normoalbuminuric subjects, both micro- and macroalbuminuric diabetic subjects had significantly longer duration of diabetes, higher levels of systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and uric acid; in macroalbuminuric subjects only, levels of apolipoprotein B and HDL cholesterol were, respectively, higher and lower than in normo- and microalbuminuric subjects. In logistic regression, variables independently related to both micro- and macroalbuminuria were age, HbA1c, cigarette smoking habits, plasma uric acid, and diastolic blood pressure, after adjustment for plasma creatinine and diabetic treatment. In addition, duration of diabetes and HDL cholesterol levels were associated with macroalbuminuria.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based study showed high prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in NIDDM subjects, who were characterized by a more adverse pattern of cardiovascular risk factors.