ATHEROSCLEROTIC RISK-FACTORS ARE INCREASED IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY-SUBJECTS WITH MICROALBUMINURIA

Increased morbidity and mortality from atherosclerotic vascular diseas e were observed in subjects with slightly elevated urinary albumin exc retion rate (UAER), known as microalbuminuria. Therefore, the associat ion between microalbuminuria and established atherogenic risk factors was studied in clinically healthy subjects, All healthy 40-65 year-old participants with microalbuminuria, examined within the first 21 mont hs of The Copenhagen City Heart Study, were invited, and 28 were studi ed, An age- and sex-matched group of 60 randomly chosen subjects with normoalbuminuria served as control, Microalbuminuria was defined as a UAER of 6.6-150 mu g/min, and normoalbuminuria as a UAER less than or equal to 6.6 mu g/min. In the microalbuminuric group, systolic and dia stolic blood pressures were both elevated (mean (95% C.I.) 128 (123-13 4) vs, 119 (116-122) mmHg; P = 0.005, and 75 (71-78) vs, 69 (67-71) mm Hg; P=0.008, respectively), and serum apolipoprotein (ape) A-1 concent ration was lower (1.30 (1.20-1.37) vs. 1.42 (1.36-1.47) g/l; P = 0.02) in comparison with the normoalbuminuric group, Furthermore, serum HDL -cholesterol concentration tended to be lower, whereas body weight, bo dy mass index and fasting serum insulin concentration were slightly el evated in the microalbuminuric group but not statistically significant , It is concluded that microalbuminuria in clinically healthy subjects is associated with increased levels of atherogenic risk factors. This may contribute to the increased vascular morbidity and mortality obse rved in these individuals.