Cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney diseases: a time for new risk markers?

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Increasing global prevalence of end-stage renal disease necessitates novel prevention and treatment strategies.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients exhibit significantly elevated cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality.
• Impaired renal function and albuminuria are recognized as major CV risk factors, even in early CKD stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the multifaceted cardiovascular risks associated with chronic kidney disease.
• To explore both traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors in CKD patients.
• To examine the predictive significance of novel CKD-specific CV risk factors on renal and CV outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on cardiovascular risks in CKD.
• Analysis of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and their management in CKD.
• Discussion of non-traditional CKD-specific risk factors, including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulation/fibrinolysis markers.

Main Results:

• CKD patients have a high prevalence of traditional CV risk factors, often undertreated.
• Novel risk factors specific to CKD significantly contribute to elevated CV risk.
• Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and altered hemocoagulation/fibrinolysis are key non-traditional risk factors.

Conclusions:

• CKD is a critical independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Addressing both traditional and non-traditional risk factors is essential for managing CKD patients.
• Further research into novel risk factors may improve prediction and management of CV and renal outcomes in CKD.