AIM: Increased urinary albumin-excretion is a cardiovascular risk factor. The metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and mortality. The aim of this prospective study was to explore the combined associations of microalbuminuria and metabolic syndrome with the risk of incident cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The present study involved 78 patients with metabolic syndrome between May 1 and July 30 in 2009 from cardiology clinic of military hospital in Marrakech. They were followed for 1 year. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Microalbuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin excretion of 30 to 300mg/d. RESULTS: The mean age was 56 years old. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 38%. There was a significantly positive correlation between the number of components of the metabolic syndrome and the corresponding prevalence of microalbuminuria. Incidence rates of cardiovascular events were higher in the positive microalbuminuria group than the group without microalbuminuria, the difference was significant for composite criteria but not for each one probably because of the small size of effective and limited duration. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong relationship between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome. Microalbuminuria accounts for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.
AIM: Increased urinary albumin-excretion is a cardiovascular risk factor. The metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and mortality. The aim of this prospective study was to explore the combined associations of microalbuminuria and metabolic syndrome with the risk of incident cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The present study involved 78 patients with metabolic syndrome between May 1 and July 30 in 2009 from cardiology clinic of military hospital in Marrakech. They were followed for 1 year. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Microalbuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin excretion of 30 to 300mg/d. RESULTS: The mean age was 56 years old. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 38%. There was a significantly positive correlation between the number of components of the metabolic syndrome and the corresponding prevalence of microalbuminuria. Incidence rates of cardiovascular events were higher in the positive microalbuminuria group than the group without microalbuminuria, the difference was significant for composite criteria but not for each one probably because of the small size of effective and limited duration. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong relationship between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome. Microalbuminuria accounts for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.