OBJECTIVE

Increased urinary albumin and protein excretion is associated with cardiovascular disease mortality independent of other cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We assessed the relationship between the different degrees of proteinuria at baseline and the incidence of stroke, as well as other atherosclerotic vascular disease events, in a prospective study of nondiabetic and NIDDM subjects.

METHODS

Our study was based on the 7-year follow-up of cohorts of nondiabetic (n = 1375) and NIDDM (n = 1056) subjects in Finland. The urinary protein concentration at baseline was stratified into three categories: no proteinuria (< 150 mg/L), borderline (150 to 300 mg/L), and clinical proteinuria >> 300 mg/L).

RESULTS

The association between the different degrees of proteinuria and the atherosclerotic vascular events was similar in nondiabetic and NIDDM subjects. Cardiovascular disease mortality was higher both in nondiabetic and NIDDM subjects with clinical proteinuria than in those without proteinuria. The incidence of stroke was 1.6% in nondiabetic subjects without proteinuria, 3.2% in subjects with borderline proteinuria, and 8.5% in subjects with clinical proteinuria (P < .001 for trend). In NIDDM patients, the corresponding rates were 7.2%, 11.1%, and 23.0%, respectively (P < .001 for trend). The association between clinical proteinuria and the incidence of stroke remained significant both in nondiabetic and in NIDDM subjects after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors. Clinical proteinuria was also associated with the incidence of coronary heart disease events and that of lower-extremity amputation. NIDDM independently increased the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease events regardless of the proteinuria status.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical proteinuria significantly predicted stroke and other atherosclerotic vascular disease events independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. This finding is compatible with the view that increased urinary protein excretion rate may be associated with widespread vascular damage.