Introduction Albuminuria predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with diabetes mellitus. However, few studies have been carried out in the general population.

Methods A total of 5260 participants aged ≥40 years from worksites in New Zealand were interviewed between 1988 and 1990. Participants were followed for up to 19 years. First CVD events were defined using ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding. Early morning urinary albumin levels of 30–300 mg/l were classified as microalbuminuric (n=249) and those above 300 mg/l as proteinuric (n=23). HRs were calculated after adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity in the total population and after excluding participants with new or previously diagnosed diabetes (n=5010).

Results Microalbuminuria was associated with increased hazards rates for all CVD events, all-cause mortality, CVD morbidity and mortality in the total population and after excluding participants with diabetes (Abstract P2-188 table 1). Similarly, proteinuria was only associated with increased HRs for all CVD events and mortality (Abstract P2-188 table 1). HRs remained significant after further adjusting for body mass index, lipids and hypertension.

Conclusion Microalbuminuria was associated with all-cause mortality and CVD morbidity and mortality in both the general population and in non-diabetic participants and may represent generalised vascular damage.