Association of cholesterol levels with mortality and cardiovascular events among patients with CKD and different amounts of proteinuria

Systolic Blood Pressure and the Risk of Kidney Replacement Therapy and Mortality in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 4-5

INTRODUCTION

In patients with chronic kidney disease stages 4 and 5 (CKD stages 4-5) without dialysis and arterial hypertension, it is unknown if the values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) considered in control (<120 mm Hg) are associated with kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and mortality.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, hypertensive CKD stages 4-5 patients attending the Renal Health Clinic at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara were enrolled. We divided them into those that achieved SBP <120 mm Hg (controlled group) and those who did not (>120 mm Hg), the uncontrolled group. Our primary objective was to analyze the association between the controlled group and KRT; the secondary objective was the mortality risk and if there were subgroups of patients that achieved more benefit. Data were analyzed using Stata software, version 15.1.

RESULTS

During 2017-2022, a total of 275 hypertensive CKD stages 4-5 patients met the inclusion criteria for the analysis: 62 in the controlled group and 213 in the uncontrolled group; mean age 61 years; 49.82% were male; SBP was significantly lower in the controlled group (111 mm Hg) compared to the uncontrolled group (140 mm Hg); eGFR was similar between groups (20.41 mL/min/1.73 m2). There was a tendency to increase the mortality risk in the uncontrolled group (HR 6.47 [0.78-53.27]; p = 0.082) and an association by the Kaplan-Meir analysis (Log-rank p = 0.043). The subgroup analysis for risk of KRT in the controlled group revealed that patients ≥61 years had a lower risk of KRT (HR 0.87 [95% CI, 0-76-0.99]; p = 0.03, p of interaction = 0.005), but no differences were found in the subgroup analysis for mortality. In a follow-up of 1.34 years, no association was found in the risk of KRT according to the controlled or uncontrolled groups in a multivariate Cox analysis.

CONCLUSION

In a retrospective cohort of patients with CKD stages 4-5 and hypertension, SBP >120 mm Hg was not associated with risk of KRT but could be associated with the risk of death. Clinical trials are required in this group of patients to demonstrate the impact of reaching the SBP goals recommended by the KDIGO guidelines.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors in chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health burden and is independently associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Assessment of cardiovascular risk in the general population using prognostic models based on routinely collected risk factors is embedded in clinical practice. In CKD, prognostic models may misrepresent risk due to the interplay of traditional atherosclerotic and non-traditional risk factors. This systematic review's aim was to identify routinely collected risk factors for inclusion in a CKD-specific cardiovascular prognostic model.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. Studies identified from MEDLINE and Embase searches using a pre-defined and registered protocol (PROSPERO ID-2016:CRD42016036187). The main inclusion criteria were individuals ≥18 years of age with non-endstage CKD. Routinely collected risk factors where multi-variable adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors had occurred were extracted. The primary outcome was fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

The review of 3,232, abstracts identified 29 routinely collected risk factors of which 20 were presented in more than 1 cohort. 21 cohorts were identified in relation to 27,465 individuals and 100,838 person-years. In addition to established traditional general population cardiovascular risk factors, left ventricular hypertrophy, serum albumin, phosphate, urate and hemoglobin were all found to be statistically significant in their association with future cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSIONS

These non-traditional risk factors should be assessed in the development of future cardiovascular prognostic models for use in individuals with CKD.

Lipid Abnormalities in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Overt Nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes and an established risk factor for cardiovascular events. Lipid abnormalities occur in patients with diabetic nephropathy, which further increase their risk for cardiovascular events. We compared the degree of dyslipidemia among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects with and without nephropathy and analyzed the factors associated with nephropathy among them.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, T2DM patients with overt nephropathy were enrolled in the study group (n=89) and without nephropathy were enrolled in the control group (n=92). Both groups were matched for age and duration of diabetes. Data on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), urea and creatinine were collected from the case sheets. TG/HDL-C ratio, a surrogate marker for small, dense, LDL particles (sdLDL) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated using equations. Multivariate analysis was done to determine the factors associated with eGFR.

RESULTS

Dyslipidemia was present among 56.52% of control subjects and 75.28% of nephropathy subjects (P=0.012). The percentage of subjects with atherogenic dyslipidemia (high TG+low HDL-C+sdLDL) was 14.13 among controls and 14.61 among nephropathy subjects. Though serum creatinine was not significantly different, mean eGFR value was significantly lower among nephropathy patients (P=0.002). Upon multivariate analysis, it was found that TC (P=0.007) and HDL-C (P=0.06) were associated with eGFR among our study subjects.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that dyslipidemia was highly prevalent among subjects with nephropathy. Regular screening for dyslipidemia may be beneficial in controlling the risk for adverse events among diabetic nephropathy patients.

Body mass index, mortality, and gender difference in advanced chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A higher body mass index (BMI) appears to be reversely associated with mortality in dialysis patients. Moreover, although women have better survival in chronic kidney disease (CKD), this survival advantage is cancelled in dialysis. The association between BMI and mortality and the gender difference remain controversial in advanced CKD.

METHODS

This study enrolled 3,320 patients (1,938 men and 1,382 women) from southern Taiwan who had CKD stages 3-5 with a BMI of 15.0-35.0 kg/m2.

RESULTS

During a median 2.9-year follow-up, there were 328 (16.9%) all-cause mortality and 319 (16.5%) cardiovascular (CV) events and death in male patients, 213 (15.4%) all-cause mortality and 224 (16.2%) CV events and death in female patients. Compared with the reference BMI of 27.6-30.0 kg/m2 in an adjusted Cox model, lower-BMI groups in men, BMI 15.0-20.0 kg/m2 and 20.1-22.5 kg/m2, were associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality: hazard ratios (HRs) 3.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.97-5.18) and 2.01 (95% CI, 1.29-3.14), respectively. Higher-BMI group in men, BMI 30.1-35.0 kg/m2, was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality: HR 1.72 (95% CI, 1.02-2.96). Likewise, lower- and higher-BMI groups in men were associated with a higher risk of CV events and death. In women, these associations between BMI and poor outcomes were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In advanced CKD, there was a reverse J-shaped association between BMI and all-cause mortality, and a U-shaped association between BMI and CV outcomes in men. Neutral associations between BMI and poor outcomes were detected in women. Gender could modify the effect of BMI on mortality in patients with CKD.

Aortic arch calcification predicts the renal function progression in patients with stage 3 to 5 chronic kidney disease

Introduction. The presence of aortic arch calcification (AoAC) and cardiomegaly on chest radiography has been demonstrated as important risk factors for cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the interrelationship among AoAC, cardiomegaly, and renal function progression remains unclear. The aim of this study is to assess whether AoAC and cardiomegaly are independently associated with the renal function progression in patients with stages 3–5 CKD. Methods. We retrospectively determined AoAC and cardiomegaly by chest X-ray in 237 patients, followed up for at least three years without entering dialysis and classified into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of AoAC and cardiomegaly. The change in renal function was measured by the slope of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Results. Of the 237 patients, the rate of eGFR decline was significantly higher in the group with coexistence of AoAC and cardiomegaly than any other groups. Baseline AoAC and proteinuria were independently associated with eGFR decline. AoAC were independently determined by age, eGFR slope, and cardiomegaly. Conclusions. The coexistence of AoAC and cardiomegaly is associated with faster eGFR decline. AoAC is an independent determinant of renal outcomes in patients with CKD stages 3–5.