Abnormal waist circumference associated with microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients

Microalbuminuria (MAU) is a strong cardiometabolic risk factor, both in diabetic and nondiabetic populations. MAU was incorporated among earlier definition criteria for the metabolic syndrome. In this multinational observational study, the prevalence of MAU and conventional cardiovascular risk factors in relation to measures of general and abdominal obesity was evaluated in 20,828 hypertensive outpatients from 26 countries. MAU was assessed using urinary dipstick screening. Univariate analysis revealed that MAU prevalence systematically increased with both body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). At any level of BMI, MAU increased with WC. Multivariate analyses revealed that WC, but not BMI, was independently associated with MAU. Of note, overweight/obesity was associated with the presence of modifiable and nonmodifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, WC appears to be independently associated with MAU, an early marker of cardiovascular and renal risk.

Abstract

Keywords:
Abdominal obesity – BMI – Cardiovascular risk – Hypertension – Microalbuminuria – Waist circumference