Renal dysfunction as a cardiovascular risk factor.

Indices of altered renal function (eg, microalbuminuria, increased serum creatinine concentration, or decrease in estimated creatinine clearance, particularly overt proteinuria) are independent predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These parameters should be routinely evaluated in the elderly and in high cardiovascular risk populations, particularly when hypertension is present. Hypertensive kidney damage should be prevented by early aggressive treatment of hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria. To avoid further aggravation of high cardiovascular risk, antihypertensive agents devoid of unwanted metabolic side effects should be used. Epidemiologic information suggests that renal and cardiovascular outcome run parallel in this segment of the population.