Abstract 4331: Elevated Albumin Excretion is an Independent Risk Factor in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure. Data from the GISSI-Heart Failure Trial

Elevated albuminuria, a marker of endothelial renal damage, is a risk factor for cardiovascular events in the general population and in patients with diabetes or hypertension. We report here on its association with mortality in a large population of patients with chronic HF. Albuminuria (albumin/creatinine concentration ratio in a morning spot sample, UACR) was determined in 2131 patients with chronic HF enrolled in 77 centers participating to the GISSI-HF trial. Patients were divided according to normal (UACR <30 mg/g) and abnormal urinary excretion of albumin (≥30 mg/g). Association between elevated albuminuria and all-cause mortality was tested by univariable and multivariable analyses. Elevated albuminuria was found in 25.3% of the population (age 67±11 y, 78.9% males, 30.1% NYHA class III-IV, 55.5% hypertension, 26.1% diabetes) and was more frequent in older patients, those with reduced renal function, diabetes or high CRP. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with elevated albuminuria (20.1% at 1000 days) compared to normals (9.0%, p<0.0001). Elevated albuminuria remained an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR [95%CI] 1.47 [1.18 –1.82]) in a Cox model adjusted for clinical risk factors such as age, gender, NYHA class, renal function, diabetes, BMI and blood pressure. About a quarter of the patients enrolled in the GISSI-HF trial had abnormal urinary albumin excretion, a marker for both renal and systemic vascular disease. We show for the first time in a large representative sample that elevated albuminuria is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with chronic HF.