Microalbuminuria as a predictor of cardiovascular disease in patients with essential hypertension

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardio-vascular diseases that killed 2.7 million people in 2004 and will result in the death of over 4 million people by 2030. Microalbuminuria is a marker of hypertensive and atherosclerotic organ damage in essential hypertension and has powerful prognostic value for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality .For a sensitive assessment of global risk thorough evaluation of target organ damage needs to be undertaken while cost effectiveness of the same should also be kept in mind. Microalbuminuria seems to be a cost effective, widely available and predictive marker for identifying the hypertensive patients who are at higher risk of cardiovascular events.