Microalbuminuria is associated with cardiovascular risk in prediabetes and prehypertension

BackgroundAccording to ICMR estimates about 30–40% Indians are prehypertensives and 11% are prediabetics. Majority of these people develop overt hypertension and diabetes over a period of time. A number of studies have shown Microalbuminuria as a sensitive marker for predicting cardiovascular (CV) risk in prediabetics and prehypertensives. Microalbuminuria is now seen as an independent predictor of CV mortality irrespective of its association with other cardiovascular risk factors. Despite the fact that the Framingham study also established in 1984 that proteinuria is an important risk marker of cardiovascular mortality, this was not added to the list of CV risk factors.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of Microalbuminuria in prediabetes, prehypertension and coexistent prediabetes and prehypertension and to see its association with ECG and Echocardiographic parameters Indicative of CV risk.MethodsIn this cross sectional study spot urine micro albumin was estimated in 200 subjects with prehypertension, prediabetes and coexistent prehypertension and prediabetes, who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) was measured by immunoturbidimetry. All the study subjects were evaluated with ECG and Echocardiography for cardiac changes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software trial version-16 to see the association of Microalbuminuria with cardiac changes.ResultsMicroalbuminuria was seen 22.2% of isolated prediabetics, 25% of isolated prehypertensives and 58% of subjects with both prehypertension and prediabetes. Significant associations were seen between Microalbuminuria and cardiac changes in the study population.ConclusionsMicroalbuminuria was found to be associated with cardiovascular risk in prediabetes and prehypertension.