Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between microalbuminuria (MAU) and cardiovascular events.
Methods: A total of 1259 hospitalized patients who received urinary albumin detection were recruited from Tongji Hospital of Tongji University in 2012. They were divided into two groups according to the level of urinary albumin: normal albuminuria (NAU) group (n=907) and MAU group (n=352). General information and cardiovascular events were collected and further analyzed.
Results: Patients in MAU group was elder than those in NAU group (P<0.01), and the prevalence of diabetes and/or hypertension in MAU group was significantly higher than that in NAU group (P<0.01). The prevalence of major cardiovascular events (unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) and congestive heart failure requiring therapy in hospital in MAU group was significantly higher than that in NAU group (P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed patients in MAU group had higher risk for major cardiovascular events (OR 1.438, 95% CI 1.018-2.031) and congestive heart failure (OR 2.540, 95% CI 1.717 to 3.757).
Conclusions: MAU increases the risk for major cardiovascular events and congestive heart failure. MAU is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular events. Patients with MAU (30-300 mg/24 h) should be treated timely to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events and delay the progression of cardiovascular diseases, which is independent of presence of diabetes and/or hypertension.
Keywords: Microalbuminuria; cardiovascular events; prevalence; risk factors.