Efecto de la variabilidad glucémica intrahospitalaria en la mortalidad de los pacientes con diabetes / Effect of in-hospital glycemic variability on mortality in patients with diabetes

Introducción El objectivo fue evaluar la importancia de glucemia media (GM) y variabilidad glucémica (VG) durante la hospitalización sobre la mortalidad tras el alta.Material y métodosEstudio de cohortes retrospectivo longitudinal analítico. Se incluyeron pacientes dados de alta del Servicio de Medicina Interna con algún diagnóstico relacionado con la diabetes. El pronóstico evaluado fue la mortalidad. Se recogieron durante el ingreso variables clínicas, analíticas y relacionadas con el control glucémico hospitalario (GM, VG e hipoglucemias). La VG se midió con el coeficiente de variación (CV).Se calcularon las tasas de mortalidad por cada 1000 pacientes-año y se compararon con curvas de Kaplan-Meier. La determinación de los factores predictivos de mortalidad se realizó mediante regresión de Cox.ResultadosSe incluyeron 276 pacientes con edad media 77,6 (DE 10,2) años. La duración mediana del seguimiento extrahospitalario fue de 2,7 años.En análisis multivariante, una GM > 140 (HR=1,72; IC 95% 1,14-2,61; p=0,01) y un CV > 0,29 (HR=1,52; IC 95% 1,12-2,06; p=0,006), no así la presencia de hipoglucemias, se asociaron a incremento del riesgo de mortalidad de forma aditiva e independiente. Tener una GM > 140 simultáneamente con un CV > 0,29 incrementó las tasas de mortalidad (123 vs. 317 por 1.000 pacientes-año; p <0,001) y el riesgo ajustado de mortalidad (HR=2,70; IC 95% 1,71-4,27; p<0,001) respecto a tener una GM ≤ 140mg/dl.ConclusiónLa presencia simultánea de GM y VG elevadas constituye una potente herramienta de estratificación del riesgo de mortalidad tras el alta hospitalaria. (AU)

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mean blood glucose (MBG) and glycaemic variability (GV) during hospitalisation on mortality after discharge.Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective longitudinal analytical cohort study that included patients discharged form a department of internal medicine with a diabetes-related diagnosis The evaluated prognosis was mortality. During hospitalisation, the patients’ clinical, laboratory and glycaemic control-related variables were recorded (MBG, GV and hypoglycaemia). The GV was measured with the coefficient of variation (CV).We calculated the mortality rates for every 1000 patient-years and compared them with Kaplan-Meier curves. We determined the predictors of mortality by performing a Cox regression.ResultsThe study included 276 patients with a mean age of 77.6 (SD, 10.2) years. The median outpatient follow-up duration was 2.7 years.In the multivariate analysis, an MBG >140mg/dl (HR, 1.72; 95% CI 1.14–2.61; p=.01) and a CV >0.29 (HR, 1.52; 95% CI 1.12–2.06; p=.006) but not the presence of hypoglycaemia were additively and independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. An MBG >140mg/dl with a CV >0.29 increased the mortality rates (123 vs. 317 per 1000 patient-year; p <.001) and the adjusted mortality risk (HR, 2.70; 95% CI 1.71–4.27; p<.001) compared with having an MBG ≤140mg/dl.ConclusionThe simultaneous presence of a high MBG level and CV constitutes a powerful tool for stratifying mortality risk after hospital discharge. (AU)

Effect of in-hospital glycemic variability on mortality in patients with diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mean blood glucose (MBG) and glycaemic variability (GV) during hospitalisation on mortality after discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal analytical cohort study that included patients discharged form a department of internal medicine with a diabetes-related diagnosis. The evaluated prognosis was mortality. During hospitalisation, the patients' clinical, laboratory and glycaemic control-related variables were recorded (MBG, GV and hypoglycaemia). The GV was measured with the coefficient of variation (CV). We calculated the mortality rates for every 1000 patient-years and compared them with Kaplan-Meier curves. We determined the predictors of mortality by performing a Cox regression. RESULTS: The study included 276 patients with a mean age of 77.6 (SD, 10.2) years. The median outpatient follow-up duration was 2.7 years. In the multivariate analysis, an MBG > 140 mg/dL (HR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.14-2.61; p = .01) and a CV > 0.29 (HR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06; p = .006), but not the presence of hypoglycaemia, were additively and independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. An MG > 140 mg/dL with a CV > 0.29 increased the mortality rates (123 vs. 317 per 1000 patient-year; p < .001) and the adjusted mortality risk (HR = 2.70; 95% CI 1.71-4.27; p < .001) compared with having an MBG ≤ 140 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous presence of a high MBG level and CV constitutes a powerful tool for stratifying mortality risk after hospital discharge.

[Conservative management in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease].

The poor health outcomes of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) in the elderly has promoted Conservative Management (CM) as a therapeutic option in advanced chronic kidney disease. However, there is still a lack of evidence about prognosis of these patients; thus, the aim was to analyze the survival rate of elderly patients under CM and RRT and evaluate the variables related to the initiation of such treatments in clinical practice. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of RRT and CM patients >75años. Renal function parameters and geriatric assessments were carried out. This evaluation included: analysis of comorbidity, functional, cognitive, frailty, nutritional and socio-family status. RESULTS: Cohort of 37 RRT and 82 CM patients. CM patients were significantly older, with more frequency of history of vascular event, more comorbility (Charlson), worse functional situation (Barthel), higher risks of cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer) and malnutrition (MNA-SF), and higher frailty and socio-familiar impairment. Mortality rate was lower in RRT patients (8.72 vs. 3/1,000 patients/month; HR= 0.37, p=0.018), but survival advantage reduced drastically after adjustment for the different geriatric syndromes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Charlson's comorbidity was found to be an independent mortality predictor in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Dialysis did not improve survival with respect to conservative treatment in patients with Charlson higher than 8 points.

Effect of in-hospital glycemic variability on mortality in patients with diabetes. / Efecto de la variabilidad glucémica intrahospitalaria en la mortalidad de los pacientes con diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mean blood glucose (MBG) and glycaemic variability (GV) during hospitalisation on mortality after discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal analytical cohort study that included patients discharged form a department of internal medicine with a diabetes-related diagnosis The evaluated prognosis was mortality. During hospitalisation, the patients' clinical, laboratory and glycaemic control-related variables were recorded (MBG, GV and hypoglycaemia). The GV was measured with the coefficient of variation (CV). We calculated the mortality rates for every 1000 patient-years and compared them with Kaplan-Meier curves. We determined the predictors of mortality by performing a Cox regression. RESULTS: The study included 276 patients with a mean age of 77.6 (SD, 10.2) years. The median outpatient follow-up duration was 2.7 years. In the multivariate analysis, an MBG >140mg/dl (HR, 1.72; 95% CI 1.14-2.61; p=.01) and a CV >0.29 (HR, 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06; p=.006) but not the presence of hypoglycaemia were additively and independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. An MBG >140mg/dl with a CV >0.29 increased the mortality rates (123 vs. 317 per 1000 patient-year; p <.001) and the adjusted mortality risk (HR, 2.70; 95% CI 1.71-4.27; p<.001) compared with having an MBG ≤140mg/dl. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous presence of a high MBG level and CV constitutes a powerful tool for stratifying mortality risk after hospital discharge.

Prognostic importance of glycaemic variability on hospital mortality in patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine Departments.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to assess the prognostic importance of various glycaemic control measures on hospital mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, analytical cohort study that included patients hospitalised in internal medicine departments with a diagnosis related to diabetes mellitus (DM), excluding acute decompensations. The clinical endpoint was hospital mortality. We recorded clinical, analytical and glycaemic control-related variables (scheduled insulin administration, plasma glycaemia at admission, HbA1c, mean glycaemia (MG) and in-hospital glycaemic variability and hypoglycaemia). The measurement of hospital mortality predictors was performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 384 patients (50.3% men) were included. The mean age was 78.5 (SD, 10.3) years. The DM-related diagnoses were type 2 diabetes (83.6%) and stress hyperglycaemia (6.8%). Thirty-one (8.1%) patients died while in hospital. In the multivariate analysis, the best model for predicting mortality (R(2)=0.326; P<.0001) consisted, in order of importance, of age (χ(2)=8.19; OR=1.094; 95% CI 1.020-1.174; P=.004), Charlson index (χ(2)=7.28; OR=1.48; 95% CI 1.11-1.99; P=.007), initial glycaemia (χ(2)=6.05; OR=1.007; 95% CI 1.001-1.014; P=.014), HbA1c (χ(2)=5.76; OR=0.59; 95% CI 0.33-1; P=.016), glycaemic variability (χ(2)=4.41; OR=1.031; 95% CI 1-1.062; P=.036), need for corticosteroid treatment (χ(2)=4.03; OR=3.1; 95% CI 1-9.64; P=.045), administration of scheduled insulin (χ(2)=3.98; OR=0.26; 95% CI 0.066-1; P=.046) and systolic blood pressure (χ(2)=2.92; OR=0.985; 95% CI 0.97-1.003; P=.088). CONCLUSION: An increase in initial glycaemia and in-hospital glycaemic variability predict the risk of mortality for hospitalised patients with DM.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of a protocol designed to improve glycemic control in hospitalized internal medicine patients with hyperglycemia]. / Evaluación de la eficacia de un protocolo destinado a mejorar el control glucémico de los pacientes con hiperglucemia ingresados en servicios Hospitalarios.

BACKGROUND: Our aims were to assess the effectiveness of a diabetes (DM) management protocol to increase scheduled insulin therapy and to improve glycemic inpatient control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We designed an analytical retrospective cohort study comparing 2 groups of medical services hospitalized patients with a primary of secondary discharge diagnosis of DM, before (group PRE) and after (group POS) the delivery of a DM management protocol. We analyzed the quality of attention by process indicators (cumulative probability of receive scheduled insulin therapy, evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis) and result indicators (adjusted glucose differences (group POS - group PRE), evaluated with multivariate regression models). RESULTS: A number of patients (355) were included (228 group PRE and 127 group POS). The median time to scheduled insulin regimen beginning was 1 (CI 95%: 0-2.5) day in group POS and 4 (CI 95%: 2-6) days in group PRE (p=0.056). First 48 hours mean glucose in patients without scheduled insulin therapy was lower in group POS than in group PRE (163.9 versus 186.7 mg/dl; p=0.025). The first 24 hours mean glucose was significantly lower in patients of group POS, with a difference between both groups of -24.8 mg/dl (CI 95%: -40.5-(-9); p=0.002). Stratified analysis showed statistically significant mean in-hospital glucose difference only in the nothing by mouth situation (-29.8 mg/dl; CI 95%: -58.9-(-0.6); p=0.045). CONCLUSION: The delivery of an institutional protocol can improve hospitalized DM patients management quality.

[Comparison of two nutritional screening tools for predicting the development of complications in hospitalized patients]. / Comparación de dos herramientas de cribado nutricional para predecir la aparición de complicaciones en pacientes hospitalizados.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients is high and has been associated with higher morbimortality. Currently no nutritional screening tool is considered the gold standard for identifying nutritional risk. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of nutritional risk in hospitalized patients using the nutritional screening tools Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Nutrition Risk Screenig 2002 (NRS 2002) and to identify the ability for predicting development of complications. METHODS: We evaluated 57 patients admitted within the first 48 h in different medical or surgical wards of the hospital. The patients were assessed by MNA and NRS 2002 and using anthropometric and laboratory parameters. Agreement between MNA and NRS 2002 was analyzed with the kappa index. ROC curves were used for assessing the validity of the both tools in predicting complications with determination of the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: The prevalence of patients at nutritional risk was 38.6% with the NRS-2002 and 49.1% with the MNA. The agreement between two tools was moderate (κ = 0.436, p = 0.001). The incidence of complications was significantly higher in patients at nutritional risk defined by the NRS 0,002) but not according to the MNA (28.6% vs. = 2002 (40.9% vs. 5.7%; p 0.08). Sensitivity for predicting complications was 81.8% with = 10.3%, p the NRS 2002 and 72.7% with the MNA and specificity was 71.7% and 56.5% respectively. By ROC curve, both tests were valid to identify the risk of complications: NRS 2002 AUC = 0.768 (confidence interval (IC) 95%: 0.637-0.869) and MNA AUC = 0.646 (IC 95%: 0.508-0.768), but the AUC was significantly higher with the NRS 2002 (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of nutritional risk in hospitalized patients is high. NRS 2002 is a screening tool more valid than MNA to predict the development of complications.

[Hyperglycaemia as bad prognostic factor in acute coronary syndrome]. / La hiperglucemia como factor de mal pronóstico en el síndrome coronario agudo.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperglycemia is a frequent observation in the acute coronary syndrome. We analyzed the relationship between hyperglycemia on admission and patients with acute coronary syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of 455 patients with acute coronary syndrome with and without elevation of ST segment with high risk according to ACA/AHA criteria. We divided the sample according to the median glycemia on admission into < 139 mg/dl and ≥ 139 mg/dl. We studied the analytic, electrocardiography, echocardiography and epidemiologic variables. Using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model, we analyzed their relationship with the mortality as principal variable during a six-month period after the acute coronary syndrome. RESULTS: Mean age was 64.3 ± 12.7 years, 80.4% were male and 21.8% had been diagnosed with diabetes. Mean glycemia on admission was 163.3 ± 71.8 mg/dl. Forty-seven patients died (10.3%), Mean glycemia of those who had died was 189.8 ± 78.8 mg/dl compared to 160.3 ± 70.4 mg/dl in the survival group (P = 0.003). Patients with hyperglycemia on admission ≥ 139 mg/dl had higher mortality, hazard ratio (HR) =2.98 (confidence interval [CI 95%]: 1.06-8.4; P = 0.039). Elderly patients, being a male, having ventricular dysfunction and initial decrease of blood pressure also showed an independent relationship with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia on admission ≥ 139 mg/dl in acute coronary syndrome patients is associated with a higher risk of death in the following six months, independently of diabetes or other risk factors known.

Undiagnosed kidney disease in hospitalised patients: an opportunity for improvement.

OBJECTIVES: In hospitalised patients, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high risk of morbidity, mortality and drug toxicity. We identified care improvement opportunities in hospitalised patients with kidney disease in a regional hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Clinical audit: 200 patients hospitalised for any reason in Alcañiz Hospital (Spain) were randomly selected. The data sources were laboratory data, clinical history and discharge reports. RIFLE criteria were applied to define kidney function deterioration. As process quality indicators we used: 1) percentage of hospitalised patients with at least one determination of kidney function during admission. 2) percentage of patients who met criteria for CKD and/or kidney function deterioration and who had this diagnosis recorded in clinical progress reports. 3) percentage of patients who met criteria for CKD and/or kidney function deterioration and who had this diagnosis recorded in the discharge report. RESULTS: Mean age was 71.1 (17) years, 42% women, 63% admitted to medical areas and 37% to surgical areas. Some 194 patients had a kidney function determination at admission; however during their stay kidney function was not monitored in 54 patients (27%), especially in surgical areas. CKD diagnosis by analyses prior to admission was available for 50 patients (25%); however this diagnosis figures in the clinical history in 14 of them (28%), and in the discharge report in 17 (34%). Kidney function deterioration was detected in 68 of the 146 patients who had kidney function monitoring during hospitalisation (46.5%). This information was contained in the clinical history in only 50% of cases and in the discharge report in 33.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CKD prior to admission and deterioration of kidney function during hospitalisation are high. Often these diagnoses are not included in clinical progress reports or in the discharge report, reflecting poor condition awareness on the part of our colleagues. Implementation of a clinical protocol and its diffusion throughout the hospital may be important tools to achieving more efficient and consistent management of these conditions.

[Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated in primary care]. / Prevalencia de enfermedad renal crónica en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 atendidos en atención primaria.

INTRODUCTION: The frequency and clinical impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes patients (DM2) and the benefits of early intervention highlights the need for close collaboration in detection and management between Nephrology and Primary Health Care. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of CKD in DM2 patients controlled by primary care and evaluate the need to early referral of CKD DM2 patients to renal specialists. STUDY POPULATION: patients older than 18 years of age, with analysis made for any reason in the 16 Health Centers of Health Sector Alcañiz (84,340 inhabitants)during 2008. VARIABLES: age, sex, serum creatinine,urine albumin/creatinine ratio, glycated hemoglobin,potassium and hemoglobin. We calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGF) by the MDRD formula. Were viewed the Consensus Document S.E.N.-SEMFyC ERC 2008 criteria for referral to renal specialists. RESULTS: Of the 16,814 patients enrolled, 3,466 (20.6%) had DM2. In DM2 patients, the prevalence of CKD was 34.6% (IC 95%, 33-36.2). eGF <60 ml/min/m2 was recorded in 25.2% of DM2 patients. In this subgroup the prevalence of albuminuria was 31.7%. Met criteria for referral to renal specialists 104 (3%) DM2 patients and 132 (1%) non diabetic patients(p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DM2 in the Health Centers is high, with frequent presence of CKD and albuminuria. An important percentage of patients meets the referral S.E.N.-SEMFyC criteria. The collaboration with primary care is essential in early detection and monitoring of these patients, and common primary care and nephrology protocols are need.Key words: Chronic kidney disease. Diabetes

[Estimation of glomerular filtration rate in primary care: prevalence of chronic kidney disease and impact on referral to nephrology]. / Estimación del filtrado glomerular en atención primaria: prevalencia de enfermedad renal crónica y repercusión sobre la derivación a Nefrología.

Data were collected in 18.922 patients attending Primary Care Centers in Alcañiz (Spain), mean age 59,96 +/- 17 years, 42,9 % males and 57,1 % females. The prevalence of eGFR was: stage 3 (30-59 ml/min/1,73 m2) 15,7 %; stage 4 (15-29 ml/min/1,73 m2) 0,6 %; stage 5 no dialysis (GFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2) 0,1 %. This prevalence increased with age and 32 % of patients attending Primary Care services over 65 years presented a eGFR < 60 ml/min/1,73 m2. Of the total patients with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1,73 m2, 26 % had normal serum creatinine levels. Protocol implementation could implied for the Renal Unit an increase in the number of patients, specially the oldest ones. This study documents the substantial prevalence of significantly abnormal renal function among patients at Primary Care level and the importance of Primary Care collaboration in their early identification and appropriate management.

Abordaje de la hiperglucemia tras el ictus / Hyperglycemia approach after stroke

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Usefulness of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio in the management of diabetic dyslipidaemia.

AIMS: Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of the total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL) in predicting the cardiovascular risk of Type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with inclusion of 418 Type 2 diabetic individuals with follow-up until the appearance of a cardiovascular event. The predictive power of updated mean lipid values during follow-up was analysed by means of Cox proportional hazard models. An estimate was made of the relative risk (RR) conferred by high levels of TC/HDL stratified by LDL-cholesterol levels. RESULTS: Sixty-six cardiovascular events occurred during an average follow-up of 4.7 years (sd 1.5). The main lipid predictor of vascular events was mean TC/HDL ratio [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25, 1.7; P < 0.0001]. In the multivariate model with simultaneous inclusion of mean TC/HDL and mean LDL-cholesterol, both were significant predictors of cardiovascular disease [HR (1 unit) = 1.37; 95% CI 1.16, 1.62; P = 0.0003 and HR (1 mmol/l) = 1.5; 95% CI 1.04, 2.18; P = 0.03, respectively]. The LDL adjusted RR for cardiovascular events due to high TC/HDL ratio, with 4.5 cut-off point, was 2.5 (95% CI 1.4, 4.3; P = 0.0007). For the stratum of subjects with average LDL cholesterol < 3.5 mmol/l, RR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.5, 2.8; P = NS) and for the stratum of average LDL cholesterol > 3.5 mmol/l, RR was 4 (95% CI 1.8, 9; P = 0.00013), with heterogeneity among strata (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: It could be useful to include the TC/HDL ratio in treatment guides for diabetic dyslipidaemia, given their high predictive value and strong interaction with LDL cholesterol.

Prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 / Metabolic syndrome prevalence in type 2 diabetic patients

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[Microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria as the main predictive factors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes]. / Microalbuminuria y proteinuria clínica como principales predictores de morbimortalidad cardiovascular en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2.

CONTEXT: [corrected] The principal objective was that of evaluating the independent contribution of microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria to the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with selection of patients with type 2 diabetes evaluated in hospital outpatient consultations. Through the Cox proportional risks model the predictive importance of the presence of microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria on the appearance of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular complications (angina, fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, sudden death, transitory ischemic attack, fatal and non-fatal stroke, or amputation of lower limbs) was analyzed. RESULTS: The monitoring of 463 patients was done during an average period of 4.64 years (SD: 1.56). There were 330 patients (71.3%) with normoalbuminuria, 106 (22.9%) with microalbuminuria and 27 (5.8%) with proteinuria. The global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rate was 3.7% annual (2.46% annual for the patients with normoalbuminuria, 5.6% for the patients with microalbuminuria and 14.42% for the patients with proteinuria; p < 0.0001). After multiple adjustment, both microalbuminuria (RR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.05-3.48; p = 0.032) and proteinuria (RR: 4.15; 95% CI: 1.77-9.75; p = 0.0011) were the main independent predictive factores of appearance of cardiovascular complications. Other predictive variables were age (RR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10; p = 0.0014), HDL cholesterol (RR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98; p = 0.001), LDL cholesterol (RR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.002-1.02; p = 0.016) and initial presence of ischemic cardiopathy (RR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.03-3.76; p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the rate of excretion of urinary albumin is the main independent predictive factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patiens with type 2 diabetes.

Microalbuminuria y proteinuria clínica como principales predictores de morbimortalidad cardiovascular en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 / Microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria as the main predictive factors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes

Fundamento. El objetivo principal fue evaluar la contribución independiente de la microalbuminuria y de la proteinuria clínica a la morbimortalidad cardiovascular de pacientes con diabetes tipo 2.Métodos. Estudio de cohortes prospectivo con selección de pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 atendidos en consultas externas hospitalarias. Mediante modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox se analizó la importancia predictiva de la presencia de microalbuminuria y de proteinuria clínica sobre la aparición de eventos cardiovasculares fatales y no fatales (ángor de inicio, infarto de miocardio fatal y no fatal, muerte súbita, accidente isquémico transitorio, accidente cerebrovascular fatal y no fatal o amputación de extremidades inferiores). Resultados. Se siguieron 463 pacientes durante una duración media de 4,64 años (desviación estándar [DE]: 1,56). Hubo 330 (71,3 por ciento) con normoalbuminuria, 106 (22,9 por ciento) con microalbuminuria y 27 (5,8 por ciento) con proteinuria. La tasa de morbimortalidad cardiovascular global fue del 3,7 por ciento anual (2,46 por ciento anual para los normoalbuminúricos, 5,6 por ciento para los microalbuminúricos y 14,42 por ciento para los proteinúricos; p < 0,0001). Tras ajuste múltiple, tanto la microalbuminuria (RR: 1,91; IC 95 por ciento: 1,053,48; p = 0,032) como la proteinuria (riesgo relativo [RR]: 4,15; IC 95 por ciento: 1,77-9,75; p = 0,0011) fueron los principales predictores independientes de aparición de eventos cardiovasculares. Otras variables predictivas fueron la edad (RR: 1,06; IC 95 por ciento: 1,02-1,10; p = 0,0014), el colesterol ligado a lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL) (RR: 0,96; IC 95 por ciento: 0,93-0,98; p = 0,001), el colesterol ligado a lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL) (RR: 1,01; IC 95 por ciento: 1,002-1,02; p = 0,016) y la presencia inicial de cardiopatía isquémica (RR: 1,97; IC 95 por ciento: 1,03-3,76; p = 0,041). Conclusiones. El incremento de la tasa de excreción de albúmina urinaria es el principal predictor independiente de morbimortalidad cardiovascular en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. (AU)