Background: Microalbuminuria is considered a major risk factor predisposing to cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality. Microalbuminuria levels in patients with or without diabetes
have been associated with a higher risk of chronic heart failure (HF). However, there are
limited data regarding prevalence of microalbuminuria in chronic heart failure and its prognostic
value. The aim of this study was to assess the occurence of microalbuminuria in chronic
heart failure patients as well as its association with clinical, echocardiographic, and body
composition markers.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 72 chronic heart failure patients (NYHA I-III)
on standard HF therapy. All patients had an echocardiogram and body composition by vector
bioelectric impedance analysis (measured by Body Stat Quad Scan).
Results: The studied population consisted of 64% men at mean age of 62.6 ± 15.1 years.
Patients were divided into systolic and diastolic HF groups. Microalbuminuria was observed
in 40% of diastolic and 24% systolic HF patients (p = 0.04). Microalbuminuria was present
in more patients with volume overload (80 vs. 21.9%, p = 0.002), with a worse phase angle and
lower serum albumin (4.7 vs. 5.9° and 3.5 vs. 4.0 mg/dl, p = 0.02) and higher pulmonary
arterial pressure compared with patients without microalbuminuria in systolic HF patients.
There was no significant association between frequency of microalbuminuria and ejection
fraction. In the diastolic HF group, the presence of microalbuminuria was not associated with
any known risk factor.
Conclusions: Microalbuminuria was more frequent in diastolic than systolic HF patients. In
systolic HF patients microalbuminuria was associated with factors known to be markers of
worse prognosis. (Cardiol J 2008; 15: 143-149
