Urinary albumin excretion is independently associated with C-reactive protein levels in overweight and obese nondiabetic premenopausal women

Objectives. C-reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria are nowadays cons idered markers of chronic inflammation of the arterial wall and of endothel ial dysfunction, respectively. An increase of CRP levels and of urinary alb umin excretion (UAE) rate have both been reported to be independently assoc iated with a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the g eneral population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibl e correlation between UAE and CRP concentrations in overweight and obese pr emenopausal women. Design and setting. A cross-sectional study in a primary care setting. Subjects, main outcome measures. CRP levels and UAE rate were measured in 1 03 overweight and obese premenopausal women, aged 18-45 years. Other measur ements included: central fat accumulation, as evaluated by waist circumfere nce; insulin resistance, as calculated by homeostatic model assessment (HOM A(IR)): fat-free mass (FFM), as measured by bioimpedance analysis: blood pr essure: and fasting plasma levels of glucose, insulin, and lipids. Results. Urinary albumin excretion was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.01). waist circumference (P < 0.001), diastolic blood p ressure (P < 0.01), triglycerides (P < 0.01), HOMA(IR),t (P < 0.05), and CR P levels (P < 0.05); and negatively associated with HDL cholesterol (P < 0. 001). After multivariate analysis, diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholestero l, and CRP levels maintained their significant correlation with UAE. Conclusion. Our study shows a strong relationship between UAE and CRP conce ntrations, irrespective of age and other anthropometric and metabolic varia bles. On this basis, it can be argued that inflammation of the arterial wal l, as indicated by higher CRP plasma levels, and endothelial dysfunction, a s shown by higher UAE rate, might represent simultaneous phenomena in the d evelopment of atherosclerosis in overweight and obese premenopausal women.