[Underestimation of renal risk in cardiology clinics. RICAR study]

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the rate of patients attended in cardiology outpatient clinics in whom microalbumine or glomerular filtration rate had been determined, at least once, in the previous 12 months.

Methods: It was an observational, transversal, multicentric study. 1224 patients were included from 124 centers in Spain. Epidemiological, anthropometric, analytic and electrocardiographic data were recruited. Glomerular filtration rate was calculated thereafter by means of the simplified equation of the MDRD. Results. Microalbumine was determined in 34% of the patients, of those 49% had positive microalbumine. Microalbumine rates were higher in patients with diabetes, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease or serum creatinine levels > 1.3 mg/dl. However, only young patients, diabetics and those with left ventricular hypertrophy had this exam performed more often. The glomerular filtration rate was determined in 11% of the patients. 30% of the population had moderate or severe renal dysfunction (filtration rate < 60 ml/min) and only 21% of the population hat normal renal function (filtration rate > 90 ml/min). Glomerular filtration rate was assessed more frequently in patients with serum creatinine > 1.3 mg/dl and those with history of heart failure.

Conclusions: The prevalence of renal dysfunction in hypertensive patients attended in Cardiology clinics is high. However, the methods recommended for early detection of renal dysfunction are scarcely used by cardiologists. These figures do not improve significantly in high risk patients.