“…[1][2][3][4][5] There is substantial evidence to indicate that UAE in the microalbuminuria range is an independent risk factor for kidney and cardiovascular disease, and of mortality in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, [1][2][3][4][5][6] hypertensive subjects, non-diabetic subjects, as well as in the general population. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] However, recent studies conducted in type 2 diabetic patients revealed that even very low UAE rates, below those conventionally accepted as the lower limit to define microalbuminuria (o30 mg per 24 h), were also associated with increased mortality. 15 Similarly, in non-diabetic subjects, albuminuria of o30 mg day À1 was found associated with older age, male gender, smoking, obesity, elevated blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, salt sensitivity, lack of nocturnal BP dipping [15][16][17][18][19] and increased risk of coronary heart disease and death 10,15,[20][21][22][23][24][25] (Table 1).…”