Background and objective: The MICREX Study has shown an high prevalence of microalbuminuria in Extremadura among diabetic patients and hypertensive population. It has been retrospectively evaluated the cardiovascular risk associated to microalbuminuria and/or diabetes mellitus.
Patients and method: A total of 902 patients older than 18 years were studied (mean age, 68.7 [11.0] years; 370 men and 532 women; 469 were diabetics and 433 non diabetic hypertensives). Microalbuminuria was measured in every patient using albumin/creatinin reactive stick in fasting first morning urine. Anthropometric measures and previous cardiovascular diseases were recorded.
Results: Odds ratio of cardiovascular disease for all patients with microalbuminuria was 1.91 (confidence interval [CI] 95%, 1.31-2.78; p = 0.001), for diabetic group it was 1.87 (CI 95%, 1.15-3.04; p = 0.01) and for non diabetic hypertensives 1.78 (CI 95%, 0.98-3.30; p = 0.06). The risk associated to all patients with diabetes mellitus (versus non diabetic hypertensives) showed an odds ratio = 1.59 (CI 95%, 1.19-2.14; p = 0.02). Hypertension in diabetic subjects rises odds ratio up to 2.13 (CI 95%, 1.30-3.48; p = 0.002). When hypertensives diabetics were compared to non diabetic hypertensives odds ratio was 1.88 (CI 95%, 1.37-2.57; p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: In a retrospective view microalbuminuria and diabetes mellitus were positively related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Microalbuminuria and/or hypertension in diabetic patients were also associated to higher cardiovascular risk.