Left Ventricular Mass Index as a Predictor of New-Onset Microalbuminuria in Hypertensive Subjects: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the predictive role of left ventricular mass and its reduction on the development of new-onset microalbuminuria (MA) in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. METHODS A total of 207 nondiabetic, normoalbuminuric patients without clinical organ damage (aged 50.8 +/- 10.1 years, 132 male, 84 smokers) with baseline office blood pressure (BP) 148/96 mm Hg were followed for a mean period of 3.3 +/- 1.3 years. At baseline and last follow-up visit, all patients underwent office and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) determination, and echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular mass index (LVMI). All patients were treated with antihypertensive therapy during the follow-up period. We defined MA as ACR between 20 and 300 mg/g for men and 30-300 mg/g for women, effective BP control as office BP <140/90 mm Hg in >= 75% of total number of visits, and LVMI reduction as the decline of LVMI at end-follow-up of >= 15% with respect to the baseline value. RESULTS Between baseline and last follow-up visit, LVMI decreased by 6.84 +/- 21.5 g/m(2) (P < 0.01); 64.3% (n = 133) of participants achieved BP control during the follow-up period. Of the total population, 5.8% (n = 12) developed MA during follow-up. Cox-regression analysis, after adjustment for clinical variables, revealed that increase of LVMI by 1 s.d. (23.3 g/m(2)) conferred a 15% increased risk of new-onset MA, while LVMI reduction and BP control were both associated with almost 100% reduced risk of MA development. CONCLUSIONS LVMI and its reduction were qualified as predictors of new-onset MA in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients, beyond BP control.