In contrast to microalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients, the factors correlated with urinary albumin excretion are less well known in normoalbuminuric patients. This may be important because even within the normoalbuminuric range, higher rates of albuminuria are known to be associated with higher renal and cardiovascular risk.

At the time of screening for the Randomised Olmesartan and Diabetes Microalbuminuria Prevention (ROADMAP) Study, the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) was 0.44 mg/mmol in 4,449 type 2 diabetic patients. The independent correlates of UACR were analysed.

Independent correlates of UACR during baseline were (in descending order): night-time systolic BP (r _s = 0.19); HbA_1c (r _s = 0.18); mean 24 h systolic BP (r _s = 0.16); fasting blood glucose (r _s = 0.16); night-time diastolic BP (r _s = 0.12); office systolic BP, sitting (r _s = 0.11), standing (r _s = 0.10); estimated GFR (r _s = 0.10); heart rate, sitting (r _s = 0.10); haemoglobin (r _s = −0.10); triacylglycerol (r _s = 0.09); and uric acid (r _s = −0.08; all p ≤ 0.001). Significantly higher albumin excretion rates were found for the following categorical variables: higher waist circumference (more marked in men); presence of the metabolic syndrome; smoking (difference more marked in males); female sex; antihypertensive treatment; use of amlodipine; insulin treatment; family history of diabetes; and family history of cardiovascular disease (more marked in women).

Although observational correlations do not prove causality, in normoalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients the albumin excretion rate is correlated with many factors that are potentially susceptible to intervention.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID no.: NCT00185159

This study was sponsored by Daichii-Sankyo.