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Kidney function and anemia as risk factors for coronary heart disease and mortality: the Atherosclerosis Risk in

Brad C Astor1, Josef Coresh, Gerardo Heiss

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. bastor@jhsph.edu

American Heart Journal
|January 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The combination of reduced kidney function and anemia significantly elevates the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events and mortality. Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing these interconnected conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Kidney failure is linked to anemia and high coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.
  • Mild to moderate kidney dysfunction is common and also associated with anemia and increased CHD risk.
  • Combined kidney dysfunction and anemia may pose an even greater CHD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between kidney dysfunction, anemia, and CHD events.
  • To examine the impact of these conditions on CHD and all-cause mortality over 12 years.
  • To assess the synergistic effect of decreased kidney function and anemia on mortality risk.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 14,971 adults aged 45-64 from the ARIC Study over 12 years.
  • Estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the MDRD Study equation.
  • Definition of anemia based on hemoglobin levels: <13.5 g/dL for men, <12 g/dL for women.

Main Results:

  • Anemia prevalence increased with lower estimated GFR.
  • Decreased kidney function correlated with higher risks of CHD events and mortality, even after adjusting for risk factors.
  • The association between decreased kidney function and mortality risk was significantly amplified in participants with anemia.

Conclusions:

  • The combination of moderately decreased kidney function and anemia significantly increases CHD events and mortality risk.
  • Highlights the critical need for identifying individuals with both conditions.
  • Emphasizes the importance of interventions for anemia and chronic kidney disease progression.
Abstract

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