Microalbuminuria: Correlation With Prevalence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Non-Diabetics

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that microalbuminuria (MAU) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in diabetics, hypertensive patients and in the general population. However, the correlation of MAU with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in non-diabetic patients has not been addressed in detail. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between MAU and severity of angiographically confirmed CAD in non-diabetic patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, which included 90 non-diabetic patients with documented CAD by coronary angiography. The ratio of urine albumin to creatinine was used to define MAU and severity of CAD was estimated using SYNTAX score. Patients were divided into two groups: group I that included patients without MAU and group II that included patients with MAU. RESULTS: Out of 90 non-diabetic CAD patients, 62 (68.9%) were in group I (MAU negative) and 28 (31.1%) were in group II (MAU positive). There was statistically significant difference in the median SYNTAX score between the groups (21 vs. 28, P < 0.001). The prevalences of double vessel CAD and triple vessel CAD were significantly higher in MAU positive group. There was a strong relationship between the presence of MAU and the extent and complexity of CAD (r = 0.094; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Thus, we conclude that patients with MAU have more severe angiographically detected CAD than those without MAU, and MAU exhibits a significant association with the presence and severity of CAD.