Albuminuria and cardiovascular risk

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular risk (CVR) estimation is crucial for guiding patient therapy.
• Albuminuria serves as an accessible, non-invasive indicator of target organ damage.
• It aids in identifying high-risk individuals, particularly those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evidence on albuminuria's role as a cardiovascular risk marker.
• To evaluate albuminuria's potential as a therapeutic target and guide for treatment.
• To address the controversy surrounding its predictive capacity in the general population.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies and clinical evidence.
• Analysis of albuminuria's epidemiological CVR marker capacity in specific populations.
• Examination of evidence regarding albuminuria as a therapeutic target.

Main Results:

• Albuminuria is accepted as a CVR marker in hypertension, CKD, and DM.
• Its role as a CVR marker and therapeutic target in the general population remains controversial.
• Evidence suggests treatments like SGLT2 inhibitors reduce CVR events irrespective of albuminuria levels.

Conclusions:

• Albuminuria is a valuable indicator of organ damage and aids CVR assessment in specific high-risk groups.
• Further research is needed to clarify albuminuria's predictive value and therapeutic utility in the general population.
• The findings highlight the complex interplay between albuminuria, CVR, and treatment efficacy.