Microalbuminuria as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals: a case report and review of the literature.

Cardiovascular disease without significant traditional risk factors is uncommon. Microalbuminuria has been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the diabetic and hypertensive patient. However, a similar influence of microalbuminuria on risk for cardiovascular disease occurs in individuals without diabetes or hypertension, and predicts all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in the nondiabetic and general population. Microalbuminuriais a risk factor commonly overlooked despite evidence of being an independent marker for cardiovascular disease. We report a case of a myocardial infarction occurring in an otherwise healthy 64-year-old male with microalbuminuria, without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Awareness of microalbuminuria as an early diagnostic marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is essential in the risk assessment of otherwise healthy individuals.