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Microalbuminuria does not predict cardiovascular disease in a normal general practice population
O L Beatty1, A B Atkinson, J Browne
1Sir George E. Clark Metabolic Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Irish Journal of Medical Science
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Microalbuminuria, or increased urinary albumin excretion, was found to be uncommon in this Northern Ireland study. It did not predict cardiovascular risk in non-diabetic men, contrary to prior research.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nephrology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Microalbuminuria is increasingly recognized as a marker for cardiovascular risk in non-diabetic individuals.
- Northern Ireland has a high incidence of coronary heart disease, necessitating local risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in a general practice population in Northern Ireland.
- To assess whether microalbuminuria predicts ischemic heart disease or adverse vascular risk factors in this population.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 400 males aged 35-65 years was recruited from a Belfast general practice.
- Microalbuminuria was defined as urinary albumin excretion rate of 20-200 ug min-1.
- Prevalence and association with ischemic heart disease and vascular risk factors were analyzed after excluding diabetes and renal disease.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 4.7% (13 subjects).
- After exclusions, 8 subjects had microalbuminuria.
- No significant difference in ischemic heart disease incidence or overall vascular risk factor profile was observed between microalbuminuric and non-microalbuminuric groups, except for higher serum triglyceride and plasma glucose in the microalbuminuric group.
Conclusions:
- Microalbuminuria prevalence was low in this Northern Ireland general practice population.
- Contrary to previous studies, microalbuminuria was not found to be a useful predictor of ischemic heart disease risk in this cohort.