Urine albumin/creatinine ratio, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide--three new cardiovascular risk markers--do they improve risk prediction and influence treatment?

Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2010 Jan;8(1):134-9. doi: 10.2174/157016110790226633.

Abstract

In order to prioritize limited health resources in a time of increasing demands optimal cardiovascular risk stratification is essential. We tested the additive prognostic value of 3 relatively new, but established cardiovascular risk markers: N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP), related to hemodynamic cardiovascular risk factors, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), related to metabolic cardiovascular risk factors and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), related to hemodynamic as well as metabolic risk factors. In healthy subjects with a 10-year risk of cardiovascular death lower than 5% based on HeartScore and therefore not eligible for primary prevention, the actual 10-year risk of cardiovascular death exceeded 5% in a small subgroup of subjects with UACR higher than the 95-percentile of approximately 1.6 mg/mmol. Combined use of high UACR or high hsCRP identified a larger subgroup of 16% with high cardiovascular risk in which primary prevention may be advised despite low-moderate cardiovascular risk based on HeartScore. Furthermore, combined use of high UACR or high Nt-proBNP in subjects with known cardiovascular disease or diabetes identified a large subgroup of 48% with extremely high cardiovascular risk who should be referred for specialist care to optimize treatment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging
  • Albuminuria / complications
  • Albuminuria / diagnosis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / urine
  • Creatinine / urine*
  • Diabetes Complications / blood
  • Diabetes Complications / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Complications / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Complications / urine
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glycoproteins / urine*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / blood*
  • Peptide Fragments / blood*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Serum Albumin
  • Serum Albumin, Human
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • ALB protein, human
  • Biomarkers
  • Glycoproteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Serum Albumin
  • pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Creatinine
  • Serum Albumin, Human