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on June 21, 2004

Circulation. 2004
Published online before print June 21, 2004, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000133312.96477.48
A more recent version of this article appeared on July 6, 2004
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Submitted on September 4, 2003
Revised on March 9, 2004
Accepted on March 11, 2004

Very Low Levels of Microalbuminuria Are Associated With Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Death Independently of Renal Function, Hypertension, and Diabetes

Klaus Klausen MD, Knut Borch-Johnsen MD, DMSc, Bo Feldt-Rasmussen MD, DMSc, Gorm Jensen MD, DMSc, Peter Clausen MD, PhD, Henrik Scharling MSc, Merete Appleyard RLT, and Jan Skov Jensen MD, PhD, DMSc*

From the Copenhagen City Heart Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jsje{at}c.dk.

Background--The aim of this study was to assess the level of urinary albumin excretion (microalbuminuria), which is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and death, in the population. Microalbuminuria has been suggested as an atherosclerotic risk factor. However, the lower cutoff level of urinary albumin excretion is unknown. It is also unknown whether impaired renal function confounds the association.

Methods and Results--In the Third Copenhagen City Heart Study in 1992 to 1994, 2762 men and women 30 to 70 years of age underwent a detailed cardiovascular investigation program, including a timed overnight urine sample. The participants were then followed up prospectively by registers until 1999 with respect to coronary heart disease and until 2001 with respect to death. During follow-up, 109 incident cases of coronary heart disease and 276 deaths were traced. A urinary albumin excretion above the upper quartile, ie, 4.8 µg/min, was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.0; P<0.001) and death (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.4; P<0.001) independently of age, sex, renal creatinine clearance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and plasma lipids. Lower levels of urinary albumin excretion were not associated with increased risk.

Conclusions--Microalbuminuria, defined as urinary albumin excretion >4.8 µg/min (corresponding to {approx}6.4 µg/min during daytime), is a strong and independent determinant of coronary heart disease and death. Our suggestion is to redefine microalbuminuria accordingly and perform intervention studies.


Key words: albumins • coronary disease • mortality • renal function




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