IS MICROALBUMINURIA PART OF THE PREDIABETIC STATE - THE MEXICO-CITY DIABETES STUDY

Microalbuminuria is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. A number of studies have indicated that insulin resistance, increased blood pressure and dyslip idaemia precede the onset of clinical diabetes. We examined various co rrelates of microalbuminuria in 1,298 non-diabetic subjects who partic ipated in the Mexico City Diabetes Study, a population-based study of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors. Both parental history of dia betes and impaired glucose tolerance were significantly associated wit h microalbuminuria. These results were not explained by differences in age or blood pressure between subjects with or without a parental his tory of diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. In addition, subjects with microalbuminuria had increased 2-h insulin and triglyceride conce ntrations, a higher prevalence of hypertension, and decreased high den sity lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations relative to subjects witho ut microalbuminuria. These results suggest that microalbuminuria may b e a feature of the prediabetic state.