The relationship between microalbuminuria in first generation diabetic and non-diabetic subjects and microalbuminuria and hypertension in the second generation (a population based study).

BACKGROUND

Predisposition to hypertension has been proposed as a risk factor for development of diabetic nephropathy and hypertension. The aim of this study was to examine a possible relation between microalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion (UAE) 20-200 micrograms/min) in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects and microalbuminuria as well as hypertension in the next generation.

METHODS

We examined 280 non-diabetic subjects in a cross sectional study (mean age 47-48 years). 136 were first born offspring of non insulin dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients and 144 were first born offspring of non-diabetic controls. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg, and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg, and/or the presence of antihypertensive medications. Data were analysed by multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

We found that parental microalbuminuria was not predictive for microalbuminuria in the second generation in this population at the time of follow-up. However, microalbuminuria was predictive for hypertension in the second generation of diabetic patients, Odds ratio (OR) = 2.5, P = 0.05 when adjusted for age, gender, smoking, and obesity. In offspring of non-diabetic persons parental microalbuminuria also increased the risk of hypertension in the offspring generation, OR = 3.7, P = 0.02. Obesity was the strongest predictor for microalbuminuria and for hypertension in offspring of diabetic patient and of non-diabetic persons.

CONCLUSION

We found a significant relation between microalbuminuria in the parental generation and hypertension in the offspring both of a diabetic population and of a non-diabetic population.