Association of microalbuminuria with ischemic heart disease in non-diabetic Asian-Indians: A case control study

Context: Microalbuminuria is a known indicator of atherosclerosis and its association with ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been extensively studied in the diabetic population. The significance of urine microalbumin in non-diabetics, however, is yet to be elucidated. Aim: To determine whether an independent association exists between microalbuminuria and IHD in non-diabetic Asian-Indians, and the level of microalbuminuria predictive of concomitant IHD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted between July 2009 and June 2011. Non-diabetic patients undergoing evaluation for IHD were divided into cases and controls, based on the presence or absence of IHD, respectively. Fifty cases and 50 controls were included, and matched by age, sex, smoking habit, hypertension and body-mass index (BMI). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting lipid profile, and urine microalbumin were recorded for all patients. Results: Mean fasting glucose, mean low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and mean urine microalbumin were all significantly higher in cases compared to controls. Urine microalbumin was independently associated with IHD, and microalbumin greater than 12.6 mg/g was predictive of IHD (OR: 13.5; 95% CI, 4.6-39.9; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Urine microalbumin is independently associated with IHD in non-diabetics and levels greater than 12.6 mg/g are predictive of IHD.