Usefulness of microalbuminuria versus the metabolic syndrome as a predictor of cardiovascular disease in women and men>40 years of age (from the Rancho Bernardo Study).

To examine the sex-specific contributions of the metabolic syndrome and microalbuminuria to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in community-dwelling older adults, 869 women and 575 men aged 40 to 96 years (mean age 71) completed questionnaires, physical examinations, and fasting laboratory tests between 1992 and 1995. Participants were followed over an average of 8 years. CVD and CHD mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. At baseline, 267 participants had the Adult Treatment Panel III metabolic syndrome, 151 had microalbuminuria, and 34 had both. During follow-up, there were 180 CVD deaths, including 83 CHD deaths. In women, microalbuminuria was associated with a twofold increased risk of CVD and CHD mortality (p