Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Albuminuria has been shown to predict cardiovascular disease in populations with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to assess the mean pressure values and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure during its ambulatory monitoring in normotensive diabetic patients, dividing them according to the presence of microalbuminuria.

Methods: The study group comprised of 77 type 2 diabetic patients. Their mean age was 56.5±6.7 years, and the mean duration of their disease was 8 years. For microalbuminuria, spot urine samples were collected in the early morning and microalbuminuria was defined as, a urinary albumin excretion between 30 and 300 mg/g. These patients, also underwent determination of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Results: 9 (24.6%) patients were microalbuminuric. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the microalbuminuric patients had higher mean pressure values, mainly the systolic pressure, during sleep as compared with that in the normoalbuminuric patients (120.1±8.3 vs 110.8±7.1 mmHg; P=0.007). The pressure load was higher in the microalbuminuric individuals, mainly the systolic pressure load during wakefulness (6.3 (2.9–45.9) vs 1.6 (0–16%); P=0.001). This was the variable that better correlated with the urinary excretion of albumin (r_S=0.61; P<0.001). Systolic pressure load >50% and diastolic pressure load >30% during sleep was associated with microalbuminuria (P=0.008). The pressure drop during sleep did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion: Microalbuminuric normotensive type 2 diabetic patients show greater mean pressure value and pressure load during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and these variables correlate with urinary excretion of albumin.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.