The Impacts of Albuminuria and eGFR on Cardiovascular Disease

Albuminuria is often used as a surrogate marker for the risk of fatal and non-fatal events in clinical trials of antihyperglycemic medications or in antihypertensive therapy. Similarly, low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is a common manifestation of progressed diabetic nephropathy, has also been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. Recent evidence suggests that both high albuminuria and low eGFR are independent risk factors for progressive kidney failure and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of albuminuria and low eGFR on the risk of cardiovascular disease. A cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected through adults’ health examinations by a hospital in a certain area in Pingtung County between 2011 and 2015. The health data base included participants’ basic information, physical examination and blood examination results. Use abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease, aMDRD (Abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease) formula to estimate eGFR. Use metabolic syndrome to define the criteria of rising blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids as an important cardiovascular disease (CVD) indicator and then calculation of the 10-year risk for CVD was completed using data from the Framingham Heart Study and a computer was used to determine risk values. In this study, ≤ 10% was defined as low risk, 11-20% was defined as moderate risk, and > 20% was defined as high risk. As albuminuria and eGFR approached critically high values, initially moderate and high 10-year risk levels for CVD tended to increase. Logistic regression analysis showed that patients with severe albuminuria and severe eGFR had higher risks of metabolic syndrome, abnormal waist circumference, hyperglycemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated blood pressure. The study concluded that albuminuria and eGFR are risk factors for CVD and can increase a patient’s 10-year risk of CVD.