[Relevant factors of microalbuminuria in aged patients with essential hypertension]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Nephrology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Essential hypertension (EH) is a prevalent condition in aged populations.
• Microalbuminuria, an early sign of kidney damage, is increasingly recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor.
• Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis are key pathological processes in hypertension-related cardiovascular complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between microalbuminuria and endothelial-dependent relaxing function (EDF).
• To investigate the relationship between microalbuminuria and common carotid artery (CCA) atherosclerosis.
• To assess these factors in elderly patients diagnosed with essential hypertension.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-four elderly EH patients were categorized into normoalbuminuria (NAU) and microalbuminuria (MAU) groups based on urinary albumin excretion rate (AER).
• Thirty age-matched healthy individuals served as controls.
• Color Doppler ultrasound was used to measure EDF, CCA intima-media thickness (IMT), and plaque presence.

Main Results:

• Patients with microalbuminuria exhibited significantly lower EDF compared to normoalbuminuria and control groups.
• CCA intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque prevalence were significantly higher in the microalbuminuria group than in the normoalbuminuria and control groups.
• Multivariate analysis confirmed microalbuminuria's correlation with reduced EDF, increased CCA IMT, and plaque index.

Conclusions:

• Elderly patients with essential hypertension demonstrate impaired endothelial function and carotid artery atherosclerosis.
• Microalbuminuria is significantly associated with diminished endothelium-dependent relaxing function and increased intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in this population.
• These findings highlight microalbuminuria as a potential marker for accelerated vascular damage in hypertensive elderly individuals.