TY - JOUR T1 - COPD and microalbuminuria: a 12-year follow-up study JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1042 LP - 1050 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00160213 VL - 43 IS - 4 AU - Solfrid Romundstad AU - Thor Naustdal AU - Pål Richard Romundstad AU - Hanne Sorger AU - Arnulf Langhammer Y1 - 2014/04/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/43/4/1042.abstract N2 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), low lung function independent of diagnosis and markers of inflammation are all associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Microalbuminuria, reflecting endothelial dysfunction, could be a relevant inflammatory marker of potential systemic effects of COPD. We hypothesised that there was a positive association between microalbuminuria and mortality in individuals with COPD. We conducted a 12-year follow-up study of 3129 participants in the second survey of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway. At baseline, albuminuria was analysed in three urine samples and spirometry was performed. Among the participants, 136 had COPD and microalbuminuria, defined as a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio between 2.5 and 30.0 mg·mmol−1. The main outcome measures were hazard ratio of all-cause mortality according to microalbuminuria. Compared to those with COPD without microalbuminuria, the adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality in those with COPD and microalbuminuria was 1.54, 95% CI 1.16–2.04. This result was similar after excluding cardiovascular disease at baseline. Classifying COPD severity by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, there was a positive association trend with increasing severity stages. Microalbuminuria is associated with all-cause mortality in individuals with COPD and could be a relevant tool in identification of patients with poor prognosis. Microalbuminuria is associated with mortality in individuals with COPD in this 12-year follow-up study http://ow.ly/rJAw7 ER -