Related Experiment Videos
Microalbuminuria and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus
1Division of Medicine, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Abstract:
Prospective studies have shown that increased urinary albumin excretion is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the nature of the association remains unknown. Eighty-five patients aged less than 65 years and not treated with insulin were studied. The overnight albumin excretion rate (AER) was measured in each patient and analysed in relation to several putative risk factors for cardiovascular disease. AER was used both as a continuous variable and after dividing patients into high-risk (AER greater than or equal to 10 micrograms min-1) and low-risk (AER less than 10 micrograms min-1) groups. By both methods of analysis AER was significantly correlated with both seated and supine diastolic blood pressure levels and with resting heart rate. Body mass index and waist-hip ratio appeared higher and HDL-cholesterol lower in the at-risk group, but differences were not statistically significant. The level of Factor VII was not significantly lower in the at-risk group. Little of the cardiovascular risk associated with raised AER can be attributed to associations with conventional risk factors.
Insights
Increased urinary albumin excretion (AER) in Type 2 diabetes patients is linked to higher diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. This suggests AER
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Elevated urinary albumin excretion (AER) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular events in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- The precise relationship between AER and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between overnight albumin excretion rate (AER) and cardiovascular disease risk factors in non-insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes patients under 65.
- To determine if conventional risk factors explain the link between raised AER and cardiovascular risk.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 85 Type 2 diabetes patients (age < 65, no insulin).
- Measured overnight albumin excretion rate (AER) and analyzed its correlation with diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, HDL-cholesterol, and Factor VII levels.
- Patients categorized into high-risk (AER ≥ 10 µg/min) and low-risk (AER < 10 µg/min) groups for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- Albumin excretion rate (AER) showed a significant correlation with both seated and supine diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate.
- While the high-risk AER group exhibited higher body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and lower HDL-cholesterol, these differences were not statistically significant.
- Factor VII levels did not significantly differ between the high-risk and low-risk AER groups.
Conclusions:
- The study indicates a significant association between albumin excretion rate (AER) and cardiovascular risk markers like diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in Type 2 diabetes.
- Conventional cardiovascular risk factors do not fully account for the cardiovascular risk associated with elevated AER.
- Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms linking AER to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population.