Systemic hypertension and microalbuminuria.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of microalbuminuria and target organ lesions and their association in a hypertensive population undergoing treatment.

Methods: This observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between April and August 2006, and included 153 hypertensive patients undergoing treatment at the Internal Medicine and Cardiology Outpatient Clinics at a University Hospital in the Southern Region of Brazil.

Results: The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 13.7% (21/153). The clinical and demographic characteristics of groups with and without microalbuminuria were similar. The prevalence of target organ lesions was 48.4%, of which most were cardiac lesions. Target organ lesions were found more often in the microalbuminuria group [76.2% (16/21) versus 43.9% (58/132)] with a significant statistical difference (p=0.006). This was also observed in the cardiac lesions, for both the total population (p=0.003) and the geriatric group (p=0.006).

Conclusion: The prevalence of microalbuminuria in the study population was 13.7% and that of target organ lesions was 48.4%; a statistically significant association was found. Microalbuminuria is also associated with cardiac lesions, including in the geriatric population.