Letter Regarding Article by Arnlov et al, "Low-Grade Albuminuria and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease Events in Nonhypertensive and Nondiabetic Individuals"

Abstract

To the Editor: Recently, researchers from the Framingham Heart Study reported in Circulation that in middle-aged, nonhypertensive, nondiabetic subjects, low-grade albuminuria predicted the development of cardiovascular disease.1 Subjects with previous coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, proteinuria, and hypertension (≥140/90 mm Hg) were excluded from these analyses. In addition to the strong prognostic value of urine albumin excretion in the lower range, another intriguing finding was reported: Baseline characteristics did not differ between subjects with urinary albumin excretion above or below the median. More specifically, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and smoking status did not differ between these groups. All of these factors have previously been reported to influence microalbuminuria.2 In particular, blood pressure is …